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Tokyo/New York, December 1, 2025:
Sony Bank, the financial arm of Japanese tech giant Sony Group, is preparing to issue a fully regulated U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin.
This launch will go through its newly formed subsidiary Connectia Trust as early as fiscal 2026 (April 2026–March 2027), multiple sources familiar with the filing confirmed to CoinDesk and Bloomberg.
The move, first revealed in an October 2025 application to the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), would make Sony one of the largest non-financial conglomerates in the world to operate its own federally supervised stablecoin, putting it in direct competition with Circle’s USDC, Tether’s USDT, and emerging bank-issued tokens.
Key Takeaways
- Sony Bank targets U.S. stablecoin launch as early as April 2026 via Connectia Trust
- 100% backed by USD cash equivalents with monthly public attestations
- Designed for zero-friction payments in PlayStation, Crunchyroll, Sony Music, and future metaverse projects
- Leverages new GENIUS Act framework for federally supervised stablecoins
- Positions Sony as the first major gaming/entertainment conglomerate with its own regulated dollar token
Background: From NFTs to National Bank Charter
Sony’s crypto journey began years ago with small-scale blockchain experiments in music royalties and limited-edition gaming NFTs.
The real acceleration came in 2025 when the U.S. Congress passed the GENIUS Act, creating a clear federal framework for 1:1 reserved stablecoins issued by OCC-chartered trusts.
On October 17, 2025, Sony Bank quietly filed for a national trust charter under the name “Connectia Trust Company, National Association.”
The 187-page application explicitly lists four core activities:
- Issuance and redemption of USD-backed payment stablecoins
- Custody of digital assets
- Reserve management using cash and short-term U.S. Treasuries
- Fiduciary payment services for Sony Group affiliates
How the Stablecoin Will Work
The yet-unnamed token will maintain a strict 1:1 peg to the U.S. dollar, with reserves held in segregated accounts and attested monthly by a Big Four accounting firm, matching or exceeding transparency standards set by USDC.
Redemption will be available 1:1 to verified users, and the token is expected to launch on one or more high-throughput blockchains (industry sources point to Solana as the leading candidate due to its existing use by Western Union’s upcoming stablecoin).
Integration Into Sony’s $100 Billion Entertainment Empire
The primary use case is frictionless payments across Sony’s digital ecosystem:
- Instant in-game purchases on PlayStation Network (no 3–5% credit-card fees)
- Seamless subscriptions and PPV anime on Crunchyroll
- Cross-border royalty payments to artists on Sony Music platforms
- Future metaverse and Web3 experiences in development by Sony Interactive Entertainment
One executive close to the project told CoinDesk: “Imagine buying a skin in your favorite PS5 game from Japan while you’re in Brazil, the payment settles in two seconds for pennies, and the creator gets paid instantly in real dollars. That’s the endgame.”
Related: Stablecoins in Web3 Gaming.
Market Impact and Competitive Landscape
The global stablecoin market surpassed $312 billion in circulation in November 2025 and is on track to reach $360 billion by February 2026 (DefiLlama data).
Sony’s entry adds a new heavyweight from traditional tech and entertainment, following in the footsteps of PayPal (PYUSD), JPMorgan (JPM Coin), and soon Western Union.
Analysts estimate Sony could capture 3–7% of entertainment-related stablecoin volume within 24 months of launch, translating to $10–25 billion in annual on-chain transaction value.
Challenges Ahead
The biggest hurdle remains regulatory approval. While the OCC has signaled openness to well-capitalized applicants under the GENIUS Act, community banks have pushed back against perceived competitive threats.
Final charter approval is expected between Q2 and Q4 2026.
Conclusion
Sony’s stablecoin is not merely a financial product, it is a strategic bet that the future of gaming, anime, and digital content will run on instant, borderless, dollar-denominated rails.
If the OCC greenlights Connectia Trust in 2026, millions of PlayStation and Crunchyroll users could soon be holding and spending a “Sony Dollar” without ever realizing they’re using cryptocurrency.
The era of big tech issuing its own money has officially begun.
Read Next:
- The Neobank Transition Report: Stablecoin Effects on Banking
- Stablecoins on Layer-3s
- Stablecoin Tax Guide 2025: Reporting and Tools for Compliance
FAQs:
1. When is Sony launching its USD stablecoin?
Sony Bank plans to launch its fully regulated USD-pegged stablecoin through Connectia Trust as early as fiscal 2026 (April 2026 onward), pending final OCC approval.
2. Will the Sony stablecoin be available on PlayStation and Crunchyroll?
Yes, the primary goal is seamless, low-fee payments for games, in-game items, anime subscriptions, and digital content across Sony’s ecosystem.
3. Is Sony’s stablecoin safe and regulated?
It will be issued under a U.S. national trust charter with 1:1 USD reserves, monthly audits, and same-day redemption rights, meeting or exceeding USDC standards.
4. What blockchain will Sony’s stablecoin use?
While not officially confirmed, sources indicate Solana is the frontrunner due to speed, low cost, and existing institutional adoption.
5. How is this different from USDC or USDT?
Sony’s token is purpose-built for entertainment and gaming, starts in a closed-loop corporate environment, and is issued by a subsidiary of one of the world’s largest content companies rather than a pure crypto firm.
