Matsumoto Kiyoshi has joined! Japan’s drugstore association introduces tokenized deposits to further speed up payments and logistics efficiency

The Japan Chain Drugstore Association has introduced the “DCJPY” tokenized deposit to achieve 24/7 instant settlement, reducing transaction fees and enhancing logistics efficiency. This, along with the USDC test at Haneda Airport, showcases Japan’s ambition to actively develop blockchain and digital finance.

Japan’s Drugstore Association Introduces Tokenized Deposits to Accelerate Business Efficiency

Japan continues to implement blockchain technology! Yesterday (3/26), the Japan Chain Drugstore Association (JACDS) officially announced a basic agreement with the Japanese blockchain company DeCurret DCP to explore and introduce the tokenized deposit DCJPY.

The Japan Chain Drugstore Association stated that the goal is to reduce payment transaction fees for drugstores in Japan and comprehensively enhance supply chain efficiencies in logistics and return management.

Before the association announced the collaboration, SBI Shinsei Bank had also announced plans to explore the introduction of DCJPY to provide new value financial services to customers.

Association members include Matsumoto Kiyoshi and Welcia, dual-layer structure enables instant payments

The Japan Chain Drugstore Association was established in 1999, with members including well-known chain drugstore giants such as Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Welcia, and Tsuruha Drug (鶴羽藥妝). Although the chain stores have generally adopted standard digital payment services like PayPay, this is the first time the association has attempted to solve logistics management issues with a digitalized yen.

The “DCJPY Network” is a dual-layer system composed of a “Financial Zone” and a “Commercial Zone.” The DCJPY is issued by Japan Post Bank in collaboration with DeCurret DCP, mainly to digitalize physical bank deposits and implement a dual-layer structure.

According to the explanatory diagram provided in the official press release, the underlying layer is the Financial Zone, primarily where banks issue after digitalizing physical bank deposits; the upper layer is the Commercial Zone, where businesses can write and execute various services. By introducing a digital advanced solution platform for tokenized deposits, the industry can achieve the integration of “business flow” and “capital flow.”

Source: Official press release on the dual-layer structure of DCJPY in commercial and financial applications

For example, when physical goods are delivered from manufacturers and wholesalers to drugstores, DCJPY can synchronize the payment capital flow in reverse through program settings, achieving instant settlement 24 hours a day, all year round.

This process can significantly reduce traditional transaction fees and effectively enhance overall administrative efficiency in business transactions, store operations, and logistics.

What is the difference between tokenized deposits and stablecoins?

Tokenized deposits are different from stablecoins. The essence of DCJPY is to directly tokenize bank deposits, representing users’ claim on the bank’s deposits, and operates on a permission-based network; while yen stablecoins mainly maintain their value through reserves held by the issuer, such as cash or government bonds, making their structures entirely different.

Japan Post Bank revealed last year that it plans to issue DCJPY to depositors in the fiscal year 2026, allowing depositors to instantly convert their account deposits into tokens operating on the blockchain in the future.

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Focusing on Cross-Border Payments, the International Expansion of Tokenized Deposits

The ambition of DCJPY is not limited to Japan; DeCurret DCP’s marketing director, Kinjo Mai, revealed in an interview with NADA News that they have collaborated with the Singapore blockchain company Partior to push tokenized deposits into the cross-border settlement field. The spokesperson stated that they hope to bring DCJPY into the global financial market through establishing phased connections.

The DeCurret DCP team stated that Japan faces pressure to catch up quickly, and the collaboration will assist DCJPY in connecting with various national financial networks, enhancing the efficiency of capital allocation for multinational enterprises.

Blockchain Moves to the Background, Haneda Airport Launches USDC Experiment

As tokenized deposits flourish, Japan is also promoting the application of stablecoins.

At the beginning of this year, the Japanese digital payment company Netstars launched a payment test for the US dollar stablecoin USDC at Haneda Airport, allowing travelers to complete payments by scanning a QR Code with the MetaMask wallet. Netstars revealed that the testing process utilized the efficient Solana blockchain, aiming to shorten checkout times.

From the introduction of DCJPY in drugstores to airport support for USDC, it is evident that Japan is actively embracing blockchain technology, allowing complex technology to remain behind the user interface, further linking traditional finance with the digital economy.

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