2-4-2025 – Shoppers across Singapore can now splash out on the latest Sony gadgets using cryptocurrency, thanks to a pioneering move by Sony Electronics Singapore. Announced on Tuesday, the firm has teamed up with Crypto.com’s payment service to roll out transactions in USDC—a stablecoin tethered to the U.S. dollar—exclusively on its online Sony Store. This marks the tech giant’s maiden voyage into direct cryptocurrency dealings in the region, offering a secure payment avenue free from the wild price swings that often plague other digital currencies.
Sony’s venture doesn’t stop at mere transactions; it’s part of a grander vision to weave blockchain and Web3 technologies into its fabric. Earlier this year, its Singapore-based arm, Sony Block Solutions Labs, unveiled Soneium—an Ethereum layer-2 network poised to revolutionise digital realms. From powering unique collectibles to fuelling creator tools and in-game economies tied to Sony’s entertainment empire, Soneium is quietly laying the groundwork. During its September testing phase, the platform embraced bridged USDC, bolstering the coin’s role in Web3 ecosystems. Already, developers have tapped into it to launch NFT collections—one notable drop paid homage to Sony’s beloved Aibo robot—while blockchain games and user-friendly tools are steadily emerging.
Meanwhile, USDC’s clout in the cryptocurrency sphere continues to swell. Boasting a market capitalisation of $60.06 billion, it holds its own as the second-largest stablecoin, trailing only Tether’s USDT, which commands a heftier $144.02 billion. Circle, the firm behind USDC, is gearing up for a stock market debut, having filed an S-1 with the SEC to signal its intent for an initial public offering. Sony’s adoption of USDC underscores the coin’s rising credibility and reliability, a sentiment echoed by Chin Tah Ang, General Manager of Crypto.com Singapore. “We’re on a mission to normalise crypto payments,” he declared, noting that a heavyweight like Sony could turbocharge global acceptance.
On the partnership front, Crypto.com is flexing its muscles too. Last month, it inked a tentative deal with Trump Media and Technology Group to launch cryptocurrency-backed exchange-traded funds (ETFs), spotlighting Bitcoin (BTC) and its own coin, Cronos (CRO). Pending regulatory green lights, these funds will soon hit the Crypto.com platform, a move that sent CRO’s price soaring by 8.5% to $0.10. For now, Sony’s online store sticks to USDC via Crypto.com’s system, but the company has hinted at welcoming more cryptocurrencies down the line—a tantalising prospect for a future where digital coins could become as commonplace as cash.
