From Anime To Gaming: Sony Planning Stablecoin To Power Digital Media Empire

Group 1 - Sony is planning to launch a U.S. dollar stablecoin in 2026 to enhance its digital ecosystem, allowing users to pay for games, anime, and subscriptions [1][2] - The stablecoin aims to bypass credit card fees, with expectations that most U.S. users will adopt the service [2] - Sony Bank has applied for a national banking charter in the U.S. to enable its Connectia Trust unit to engage in cryptocurrency activities, including issuing dollar-pegged stablecoins [3] Group 2 - The stablecoin infrastructure will be provided by Bastion, which raised $14.6 million in a seed round led by Coinbase Ventures, with participation from Sony's venture arm [2] - The GENIUS Act, signed into law in April, has encouraged a surge in stablecoin interest from traditional financial institutions and tech companies [3] - Stablecoin issuers typically hold reserves in short-term treasury bonds, generating significant profits without sharing with users, as evidenced by Tether's reported net profits of over $13 billion for 2024 [4]