Sony now lets shoppers pay in USDC through Crypto.com in parts of Asia

Sony Electronics, in conjunction with digital currency exchange Crypto.com, has integrated cryptocurrency payments into its online store, allowing customers from Singapore to purchase gadgets using USDC. The move, announced on Tuesday through a press release, is Sony’s first local foray into direct crypto transactions.

Shoppers in Singapore can now check out using USDC on the Sony Store Online. Crypto.com’s payment system will power the new payment feature, which is exclusive to the online store and currently limited to USDC, a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar. However, Sony has said that other cryptos could be added in the future.

According to CoinGecko, USDC is the second largest stablecoin by market volume, with over $60 billion of its tokens in circulation.

Crypto.com collaborates with Sony to bolster market reach

Chin Tah Ang, General Manager of Crypto.com Singapore, coined the integration as a step toward mainstream crypto adoption. 

“We’re pushing to make paying in crypto more mainstream, and partnering with a well-established and forward-thinking brand like Sony Electronics Singapore further raises awareness of how simple it can be to pay for everyday goods and services using crypto,”

said, Chin Tah Ang.

Sony and Crypto.com are also launching a promotional campaign, where the first 50 customers who spend at least S$300 using Crypto.com Pay will receive a free LinkBuds speaker worth S$299. 

Meanwhile, the first 150 users who spend at least S$100 will receive 20 USDC credited to their Crypto.com accounts. Customers spending S$300 or more can claim both rewards, subject to availability. According to the announcement, the promotion runs until April 30, 2025.

The partnership with Sony comes just over a week after Crypto.com agreed to launch several exchange-traded fund products with US President Donald Trump’s media company, Trump Media. 

In a statement released on March 25, Trump Media confirmed the ETFs will be “American-focused” and, pending regulatory approval, slated to launch later this year. 

Crypto.com also waved away its legal battle with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) at the tail end of March. In a March 27 X post, CEO Kris Marszalek said that the SEC took no action against the crypto exchange and bashed the financial regulator for “attempting to stifle it.”

“The fact that we not only persevered but became stronger is a testament to our vision and the community supporting it. Onwards!” he concluded.

Sony expands Web3 ambitions with LINE partnership

Sony’s blockchain division is advancing its Web3 ambitions by partnering with LINE, a Japanese social media giant with approximately 200 million active users. The collaboration, announced in mid-March, will bring several LINE-based mini-apps onto Sony’s Soneium blockchain, a custom-built Ethereum layer-2 network.

Soneium was developed by Sony Block Solutions Labs using Optimism’s OP Stack technology and ranks as the 14th largest layer-2 network by total value locked, according to L2Beat. The blockchain bridges Web2 users into Web3 by supporting digital collectibles, creator tools, and in-game economies tied to Sony’s entertainment ecosystem.

As part of the agreement, four LINE mini-apps, Sleepagotchi, Farm Frens, Puffy Match, and Pocket Mob, will be integrated into Soneium. These apps, which have a strong user base within LINE’s ecosystem, will introduce blockchain-based features such as in-game rewards and purchases.

“LINE has built a strong presence, and integrating successful mini-apps into the Soneium ecosystem is the next step toward making Soneium more accessible,” Jun Watanabe, chairman of Sony Block Solutions Labs, surmised. “We believe this collaboration will drive engagement and adoption in ways that were previously difficult to achieve.”

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