The bank applied for a US banking license, partnered with stablecoin issuer Bastion, and expanded its Web3 ambitions through its new subsidiary, BlockBloom. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan is also moving forward with stablecoin adoption by launching a regulated sandbox in 2026 to test blockchain-based payment systems and allowing tokenized securities to be issued and traded domestically. This is part of the regional push across Central Asia where countries like Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan are quickly moving forward with stablecoin, CBDC, and digital asset initiatives. Sony Bank Plans US Stablecoin Sony Bank, the digital lending arm of Sony Financial Group, is preparing a major push into the US market with plans to launch its own US dollar-pegged stablecoin as early as 2026. According to reporting from Nikkei , the stablecoin is expected to play a key role in Sony’s huge entertainment ecosystem, and will allow users in the United States to pay for PlayStation games, subscriptions, anime content, and other digital services directly with a blockchain-based asset rather than traditional payment methods. The initiative is designed not only to expand Sony’s presence in the US, which is a region that accounts for roughly 30% of the company’s external sales, but it will also reduce the fees it currently pays to major credit-card networks. Report from NikkeiAsia Sony Bank submitted an application for a US banking license in October as part of its plan to establish a stablecoin-focused subsidiary. In addition to this, the company partnered with Bastion, a US stablecoin issuer backed by Coinbase Ventures. Sony’s venture arm also participated in Bastion’s recent $14.6 million funding round. If approved, the new subsidiary will allow Sony to issue its stablecoin under US regulatory oversight while directly integrating blockchain payments into its existing product lines. The stablecoin project is part of Sony Bank’s expansion into Web3, an area the company has been steadily developing over the past year. In June, the bank launched a dedicated Web3 unit, which was later named BlockBloom , to explore blockchain-based financial services including NFT storage, crypto wallets and exchange platforms. Announcement from Sony Bank Sony Bank said earlier this year that digital assets are becoming more central to new business models, and it plans to tap into the growing intersection of fan engagement, digital collectibles, and traditional financial services. BlockBloom’s mission is to merge these elements into a single ecosystem that connects artists, fans, real-world experiences, digital assets, and multiple forms of currency. This shift comes on the heels of Sony Financial Group’s recent spin-off from Sony Group, with its shares debuting on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in September. The separation was designed to give both companies clearer strategic pathways, with Sony Bank now using that independence to expand more aggressively into blockchain-driven products. Uzbekistan Tests Stablecoin Payments Stablecoins are making progress in other jurisdictions as well. Uzbekistan is preparing to integrate stablecoins directly into its national payment ecosystem, beginning with a tightly supervised regulatory sandbox that is set to launch on Jan. 1, 2026. According to local outlet Kun , the new law that was signed last week places the experimental framework under the authority of the National Agency for Perspective Projects and the central bank. The sandbox will allow selected pilot programs to test stablecoin-based payment systems built on distributed ledger technology. This is the country’s biggest step yet toward formalizing digital assets in its financial infrastructure. The initiative is part of a modernization push that will also allow Uzbekistan-based companies to issue tokenized shares and bonds beginning next year. Licensed stock exchanges will host a dedicated platform for trading these digital securities. The developments also follow comments made in September by Central Bank Chairman Timur Ishmetov, who said that studies on digital currencies were underway and warned that crypto activity must be conducted under strict oversight due to its potential impact on monetary policy. Central Bank Chairman Timur Ishmetov Alongside its stablecoin exploration, Uzbekistan is considering the introduction of a central bank digital currency, though Ishmetov indicated that such an instrument will be limited to interbank settlements rather than retail use. At the same time, regulators tightened their stance on crypto market participants, with the National Agency for Prospective Projects doubling monthly fees for exchanges to about $20,015 under a directive that was issued in March of 2024. The country’s digital asset ambitions form part of a regional trend across Central Asia, where governments are quickly advancing their own crypto and CBDC frameworks. In fact, Kyrgyzstan recently introduced a stablecoin pegged to the national currency and outlined plans for a CBDC and a state-run digital asset reserve. Kazakhstan, however, is still the regional front-runner. Authorities there have taken down 130 illicit crypto platforms tied to money laundering operations this year and continue to advance a dual-track digital asset strategy that includes a CBDC pilot , a state-backed stablecoin, and the establishment of a national crypto reserve in partnership with Binance.
