sony

Hey everyone! It seems like traditional industry giants are increasingly embracing Web3. I just looked into the latest news about Sony – and this isn't just another NFT experiment, but a full-scale strategic shift. The company has announced plans to launch its own "tablet" (think: universal) Web3 network with a new internet interface. Sounds abstract? Let's break it down.
What`s Happening?
Sony Bank (the online bank within Sony Financial Group) is preparing to launch a stablecoin, likely pegged to the US dollar, by 2026. But the key point is that this stablecoin won't exist in a vacuum. It will become the core of a new ecosystem that connects:
Purchases on the PlayStation Store (games, subscriptions, content)Digital assets and NFTsPayments between users within the Sony networkPotentially, partner services
This payment tool will work alongside familiar methods (like cards), not as a replacement.
Why is Sony Doing This?
User Retention: About 30% of Sony Group's revenue already comes from its gaming division. A Web3 network will create a closed-loop economy, keeping users within the Sony ecosystem longer and increasing spending.Entry into New Financial Services: Sony Bank applied for a US banking license in October 2023 and partnered with Bastion (known for its work with a16z) to ensure the stability of its stablecoin. This is a direct move into the US digital payments market.Structural Changes: In September 2023, Sony Financial Group was spun off from Sony Group and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. This gave the bank more freedom for risky long-term projects – like this one.
The Technical Foundation: BlockBloom
In early 2023, Sony Bank announced the creation of a Web3 division called BlockBloom. Its goal is to link digital and physical experiences through NFTs, fiat, and digital currencies. The stablecoin is set to become a key payment instrument within this ecosystem.
What`s in it for Users?
Imagine this: you buy an in-game item in God of War, earn an NFT achievement for it, then sell it to another player for Sony's stablecoin, and immediately use those funds to pay for a Crunchyroll (Sony's anime service) subscription or a movie ticket for a new Sony Pictures film. All without conversions, hidden fees, or leaving your Sony account.
Why This Matters for the Crypto Industry
Legitimization: When corporations like Sony enter the space, it changes the stance of regulators and mass consumers.Mass Adoption: Sony has hundreds of millions of active PlayStation users, service subscribers, and device owners. For many, this will be their first experience using cryptocurrency (yes, a stablecoin is crypto too).Focus on Utility: Unlike many "NFT for the sake of it" projects, Sony is building a system with real utility from the start: payments, content, cross-platform functionality.
Unanswered Questions
Which blockchain will Sony choose? No info yet. Possibly a private fork or a partnership with an existing network.Will the stablecoin be available on external exchanges? Or will it remain an exclusively internal asset?How will regulators react? The US license application is already submitted – the process is underway.
And the Key Discussion Point:
Do you think Sony's success in building such an ecosystem will force other tech giants (Microsoft, Apple, Google) to accelerate their own Web3 strategies? Or, on the contrary, if the project fails, will it freeze the industry for several more years? And would you use a stablecoin from Sony if it offered real advantages in games and content?
#SonyCrypto #Web3 #Sony

Sony Bank is moving deeper into the digital-asset arena, laying the groundwork for a U.S. dollar–backed stablecoin as part of a larger strategy to build enterprise-grade crypto infrastructure. The initiative marks a significant acceleration in institutional adoption, supported by a strengthened partnership with Bastion, one of the rising players in regulated digital-asset services.
A Strategic Push Into Regulated Stablecoin Infrastructure
Momentum around institution-ready crypto systems picked up sharply on December 1, when Sony Bank confirmed plans to enter the U.S. stablecoin and digital-asset market. The bank will rely on Bastion as its exclusive issuing partner, creating a long-term strategic collaboration that covers the full lifecycle of the stablecoin: issuance, reserve oversight, and custodial operations.
Bastion described its role plainly, noting that it will “lead the effort to help Sony Bank expand into the global digital-asset ecosystem” as part of its exclusive agreement. Kazuhito Hadano, CEO of Sony Ventures Corporation, emphasized how the partnership aligns with Sony’s broader innovation strategy, highlighting strong institutional backing for Bastion as a key driver of the collaboration. According to Hadano, this alliance aims to take the stablecoin to broad consumer markets and build the foundation for enterprise-scale adoption of digital assets.
Under the arrangement, Bastion will manage the issuance of Sony Bank’s U.S. dollar–collateralized stablecoin, oversee reserve management, and act as the designated service provider for the bank’s initial entry into the sector.
A Timeline Toward U.S. Expansion
Reporting from Nikkei suggests that Sony Bank is eyeing fiscal year 2026 for the stablecoin’s debut in the United States. The move follows the bank’s application for a U.S. banking license in October and includes the formation of a dedicated subsidiary to handle stablecoin operations jointly with Bastion.
Sony’s ambitions extend beyond financial markets. The company anticipates that American users—particularly within its gaming and anime ecosystems—may embrace stablecoin payments as an alternative to credit cards, reducing transaction fees and friction. That market alone is significant: U.S. revenue accounted for more than 30% of Sony’s total in the fiscal year ending March 2025.
Institutional Backing and Industry Context
Bastion’s role reflects its growing prominence in enterprise-grade crypto solutions. The company recently completed a capital raise supported by the Sony Innovation Fund, Coinbase Ventures, a16z crypto, Samsung NEXT, and Hashed—an investor lineup that underlines confidence in regulated digital-asset infrastructure.
Analysts view corporate issuers like Sony Bank as potentially pivotal for building stronger risk controls, more standardized payment rails, and clearer reserve frameworks across the stablecoin market. While critics argue that corporate-backed stablecoins could increase centralization, supporters counter that regulated issuance, enhanced compliance systems, and deeper liquidity will strengthen global trust in digital-asset markets.
A Milestone in Enterprise Crypto Adoption
Sony Bank’s entry into the U.S. stablecoin market is more than a product launch—it signals a shift among major corporations toward building and owning digital-asset infrastructure rather than simply participating in it. With Bastion’s regulatory and technical support, Sony is positioning itself to play a meaningful role in shaping how stablecoins are used across consumer and enterprise environments in the years ahead.
#Binance #wendy #SONY $BTC $ETH $BNB

Sony Bank is preparing to roll out a U.S.-regulated dollar-backed stablecoin by 2026, according to reports. The company is working with Bastion and expanding its Web3 ecosystem, aiming to enable crypto payment options across platforms — including future PlayStation services.

Sony Bank — the digital banking arm under Sony Financial Group — is reportedly gearing up to introduce a U.S.-based stablecoin designed to support payments across Sony’s broad entertainment network.

According to a Monday report from Nikkei, Sony aims to debut a dollar-backed stablecoin in 2026. Once released, the token could be used to purchase PlayStation games and subscriptions, as well as anime content within Sony’s digital platforms.

With U.S. consumers accounting for nearly 30% of Sony Group’s global revenue, the company sees the stablecoin as a way to streamline payments and cut down on credit card processing fees by offering an alternative payment method.

To move the plan forward, Sony Bank filed for a U.S. banking license in October in order to set up a subsidiary focused specifically on stablecoin operations. The bank is also collaborating with Bastion — a U.S.-regulated stablecoin issuer — and Sony’s venture capital arm recently participated in Bastion’s $14.6 million funding round led by Coinbase Ventures.

Sony Bank’s Expansion Into Web3

The push toward a U.S. stablecoin fits into Sony Bank’s broader strategy to grow its Web3 footprint. In June, the bank launched a dedicated Web3 division to accelerate its blockchain-related initiatives.

“Blockchain-powered digital assets are becoming a part of many emerging services and business models,” Sony Bank noted in a statement published in May.

The bank added that financial tools such as wallets for storing NFTs and crypto assets, along with crypto exchange services, are becoming increasingly critical as Web3 adoption expands.

In June 2025, Sony Bank launched a dedicated Web3 subsidiary with an initial investment of 300 million yen (around $1.9 million), according to the bank. The division, now called BlockBloom, is designed to create an ecosystem integrating fans, artists, NFTs, digital and physical experiences, and both fiat and digital currencies.

Related: Animoca plans to expand into stablecoins, AI, and DePIN in 2026, says executive.

The stablecoin project comes after Sony Financial Group — Sony Bank’s parent company — spun off from Sony Group and became independently listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in September. The separation was intended to streamline operations and allow both the financial arm and the broader Sony conglomerate to focus on their strategic priorities.

Cointelegraph reached out to Sony Bank for comment on its potential U.S. stablecoin launch but had not received a reply by the time this article was published.
#cryptocurrencies #StablecoinNews #Asia #games #Sony