Main Points :
- EXPO2025 Digital Wallet will enable USDC transfers, payments, and future JPYC support—enhancing liquidity and usability.
- Points earned at Expo (EXPO tokens) become interoperable with stablecoins and fiat via USDC and JPYC.
- Post-Expo transformation into HashPort Wallet will unlock DeFi capabilities: DEX, lending, and extended Web3 utility.
- JPYC, Japan’s first yen-backed stablecoin, achieves regulatory approval and institutional integration—ushering in a stablecoin era.
- Macro developments: Japanese regulatory reforms—crypto tax overhauls and stablecoin frameworks—boost institutional crypto adoption.
1. Convenience Elevated: EXPO2025 Wallet Adds USDC & JPYC Support
The EXPO2025 Digital Wallet, the official app for the Osaka-Kansai Expo, will begin supporting transfers, payments, and exchanges with USD Coin (USDC) from September 13. Japan’s leading financial newspaper reports that this addition will allow Expo-earned EXPO tokens to be converted into USDC, enabling users to transfer funds, convert them into fiat currencies, or deposit into bank accounts.
Future plans include integrating JPYC, the first Japanese yen–pegged stablecoin, enabling seamless conversion from EXPO tokens to yen-backed stablecoin for domestic and international transactions.
2. From Expo Rewards to Currency: How EXPO Tokens Unlock Real Value
EXPO tokens, which are accrued through the “MYAKU‑PE!” system—1 token = ¥1—can be used as electronic money within the wallet ecosystem. With USDC support, these tokens now gain cross-border functionality; and with forthcoming JPYC compatibility, they also gain yen-backed flexibility—connecting visitor interaction at the Expo to mainstream and DeFi financial utility.
3. Post-Expo Evolution: HashPort Wallet with DeFi Access
After the Expo ends on October 13, the app will undergo a transformation to become HashPort Wallet. The existing user balances—EXPO tokens, USDC, presumably JPYC—will transfer seamlessly into the new wallet. HashPort plans to add decentralized finance (DeFi) features, including DEX access and lending/earning capabilities, substantially expanding the wallet’s Web3 utility.
4. JPYC: Japan’s First Yen-Pegged Stablecoin Goes Live
JPYC has secured approval from Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) and registered as a funds transfer service provider—clearing regulatory hurdles to issue the country’s first yen-backed stablecoin, pegged 1:1 to the yen and backed by JGBs and bank deposits.
The coin launches this autumn, with no transaction or issuance fees. Per-user daily issuance is capped at ¥1 million, but no limit exists on transfers or holdings. Initial demand is expected from institutional investors, hedge funds, and family offices, with broader adoption anticipated over time.
5. Japan’s Regulatory Push: Crypto Tax Reform and Institutional Access
Japan is rapidly advancing digital asset regulation to attract institutional capital. Starting in 2026, crypto gains will be taxed at a flat 20%, aligned with equity taxation, subsuming previous rates exceeding 50%. The reforms also allow loss carry-forwards—creating market stability and appealing conditions for long-term investors.
Simultaneously, framework reforms and the creation of the FSA’s Digital Finance Bureau, along with JPYC approval, are positioning Japan as a hub for regulated crypto, enabling future initiatives like spot Bitcoin ETFs.
Summary
In essence, the EXPO2025 Digital Wallet’s support for USDC—soon to include JPYC—propels a simple reward system (EXPO tokens) into global, stablecoin-based utility. This transition bridges visitor engagement with broader financial ecosystems. After the Expo, the evolution into HashPort Wallet positions it as a multi-purpose Web3 tool with DeFi access. Simultaneously, JPYC’s regulatory approval crystallizes Japan’s stablecoin ambitions amid sweeping tax reforms—ushering in a new era of institutional and retail crypto adoption domestically and globally.
