Major Japanese payments firm Digital Garage is partnering with stablecoin issuer Circle and convenience store giant Lawson to introduce a new international remittance service. The service will allow users to pay for money transfers with physical cash at Lawson's convenience stores, with the cross-border settlement handled efficiently on the backend using stablecoins.

This initiative represents a significant bridge between Japan's traditionally cash-heavy society and the emerging digital currency landscape. The Japanese government has been actively encouraging a shift to digital payments, setting a goal to achieve 40% cashless transactions by 2025.

This collaboration provides a practical, real-world application for stablecoins beyond the typical trading and DeFi use cases, integrating them into mainstream financial infrastructure to facilitate lower-cost, faster international payments for a broader consumer base.