TechFlow News: On April 17, according to the official guidelines issued by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the “Subsidy Guidelines for Promoting the Social Implementation of Stablecoins” will officially take effect on April 15, 2026. The guidelines provide subsidies to businesses developing use cases for Japanese yen–denominated stablecoins (SC) within Tokyo. The maximum subsidy amount is JPY 40 million, covering up to two-thirds of the eligible expenses incurred by the subsidized entity.
Applicants must meet the following conditions: maintain a registered head office or branch in Tokyo; hold the requisite licenses or complete required registrations under applicable laws; not have received commissions or funding from the national government or other local governments during the same fiscal year; have no ties to anti-social forces; and have no outstanding tax arrears. Eligible expenses include external platform usage fees, professional consulting and auditing fees, and system development costs—but exclude consumption tax and funds allocated for SC reserve assets. Subsidized entities will be selected by the Governor through public recruitment and review meetings; review criteria remain confidential, and review outcomes are final and non-appealable. Furthermore, if a subsidized entity fails to realize actual stablecoin use cases, or obtains subsidies through improper means, the Governor may rescind the subsidy decision and demand repayment of the disbursed funds. Late repayment will incur penalty interest and late-payment surcharges at an annual rate of 10.95%.
