Sony's Blockchain Partner Launches Institutional-Grade Stablecoin for Soneium

Core Insights - Startale Group has launched Startale USD (USDSC), an institutional-grade dollar stablecoin, as the default settlement currency for the Soneium network, which is an Ethereum layer-2 platform [1][2] - The launch of USDSC is accompanied by a rewards program called STAR Points, incentivizing transactions through the Startale App [1][3] - The global stablecoin market is valued at over $310 billion, with predictions indicating an 88% chance that total capitalization will not exceed $360 billion before February [5] Company Developments - Startale Group's USDSC aims to provide a stable and trusted currency for users and creators on the Soneium platform, facilitating payments and yield opportunities [2] - The underlying infrastructure for USDSC is provided by the universal stablecoin platform M0, which integrates issuance, application logic, and liquidity [2] - The Startale App is currently open for a waitlist, allowing early access to USDSC features and STAR Points [3] Industry Trends - Japan's Financial Services Agency (FSA) has approved several stablecoin initiatives, including a dollar-pegged stablecoin by Circle and a yen-stablecoin pilot by major banks, indicating a growing regulatory acceptance of stablecoins in the region [4] - The stablecoin market is experiencing momentum, with various projects and partnerships emerging to enhance the infrastructure and usability of stablecoins [4]