Hakuhodo KEY3 Backs Startale Japan Digital Bond Paying Interest in Yen Stablecoin
The bond is being sold as a communication channel rather than only a fundraising tool, which is why an advertising joint venture, not a securities house, ran its planning and its public face.
Reporting from 1 source: ASCII.jp.
Hakuhodo KEY3 handled product planning, scheme design and communication for Startale Japan's first guaranteed digital bond, which began offering on October 6, 2026. Interest and redemption payments are made in JPYSC, a yen-denominated trust-type stablecoin. Startale Japan describes it as Japan's first digital bond to do so, based on its own research as of September 30, 2026. Hakuhodo KEY3 also devised the nickname Stablecoin Adoption Bond.
Hakuhodo KEY3 is a joint venture between Hakuhodo Inc. and Startale Group, and it took part from the design stage of the bond, including the scheme and the consumer-facing communication.
The stated rationale is that blockchain-based bonds can be issued in small denominations and small scale, and can carry perks such as points, company products and exclusive experiences alongside cash interest. Hakuhodo KEY3 says it will use what it learned here to support digital bond planning and issuance for operating companies, including mid-sized, small-to-medium and regional firms.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.