Startale Group introduces institutional stablecoin for Sony’s blockchain platform
Startale Group, the blockchain partner working with Sony on the Soneium network, has launched an institutional-grade dollar stablecoin. The new token, called Startale USD (USDSC), went live on Wednesday as the default settlement currency for the Ethereum layer-2 platform.
I think this move makes sense when you consider Sony’s broader ambitions in the blockchain space. They’ve been testing Soneium since earlier this year, and the platform apparently drew over 14 million users during that testing phase. That’s not a small number, though I wonder how many of those were active versus just testing the waters.
Building the payment infrastructure for creators
Sota Watanabe, who founded Astar Network and leads Startale Group, explained the thinking behind USDSC. “USDSC is the digital dollar for Soneium that powers everything in the Startale App,” he told Decrypt. He mentioned that as more users and creators join the platform, they’ll need a stable currency for moving money, making payments, and earning yields.
What’s interesting here is the partnership with M0, a universal stablecoin platform that recently worked with MetaMask and Stripe. They’re providing the underlying infrastructure for USDSC, connecting issuance, application logic, and liquidity into what they call a single programmable system.
Rewards program and broader stablecoin trends
The launch came alongside a rewards program called STAR Points. Users can earn these points by minting and holding USDSC, providing liquidity on Uniswap, and interacting with various apps. Some Soneium projects will distribute tokens and rewards through the Startale App, which has opened its waitlist for early access.
This comes at a time when Japan’s stablecoin landscape is getting more interesting. Circle secured Japan’s first approval for a dollar-pegged stablecoin back in March with USDC. Now Japan’s Financial Services Agency has reportedly approved a yen-stablecoin pilot set to roll out next March, involving major banks like MUFG, SMBC, and Mizuho.
Sony’s own stablecoin ambitions
Perhaps the bigger story here is Sony’s own plans. The company is reportedly planning to issue its own dollar-denominated stablecoin next year for purchasing games and anime within its digital ecosystem. Sony Bank has partnered with stablecoin firm Bastion for these services, and they’ve even filed to acquire a U.S. national banking charter in October.
That last part is significant because it would allow Sony’s subsidiary Connectia Trust to engage in crypto activities more broadly. It feels like Sony is building multiple layers of blockchain infrastructure, with Soneium as the platform and now stablecoins as the payment layer.
The global stablecoin market is currently valued at over $310 billion according to CoinGecko data. But there’s some skepticism about growth—users on prediction market Myriad apparently place an 88% chance on total capitalization failing to exceed $360 billion before next February.
Still, when you look at all these pieces together—Sony’s platform, their banking ambitions, Japan’s regulatory developments—it paints a picture of serious institutional interest in stablecoins. Not just as speculative assets, but as actual payment rails for digital ecosystems.
What remains to be seen is whether users will adopt USDSC in meaningful numbers, or if they’ll stick with more established options. The rewards program might help with initial adoption, but long-term success will depend on actual utility within the Soneium ecosystem.
