NETSTARS and Canton Foundation Enter into a Basic Agreement for Collaboration on Web3 Payments

July 7,2026

NETSTARS and Canton Foundation Enter into a Basic Agreement for Collaboration on Web3 Payments
Exploring opportunities for blockchain-based payment solutions
with a focus on privacy and compliance

NETSTARS Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Tsuyoshi Ri; hereinafter “NETSTARS”), a leading provider of cashless payment solutions in Japan, today announced that it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with Canton Foundation, the independent organization responsible for supporting the governance and long-term development of Canton Network.
Under the MOU, the parties will explore opportunities for collaboration aimed at supporting the adoption of Web3-based payment solutions, including stablecoin payments, while leveraging their respective expertise and technological strengths.
Canton Foundation is one of the organizations that supports the vision of StarPay-X, NETSTARS’ initiative to bridge traditional Web2 payment environments and emerging Web3 technologies. Through this collaboration, the parties intend to discuss and evaluate potential approaches to enabling more flexible digital payment experiences that can evolve alongside future technological developments.

StarPay-X is a concept promoted by NETSTARS that seeks to make next-generation payment technologies available as a natural extension of existing cashless payment experiences. Rather than depending on a specific blockchain, wallet, or service provider, the initiative aims to provide merchants and consumers with greater flexibility in choosing payment methods based on their needs and circumstances.
Canton Network is designed as a blockchain infrastructure with a strong focus on privacy, interoperability, and compliance. These characteristics align with NETSTARS’ interest in exploring practical applications of blockchain technology in payment-related environments and support ongoing discussions regarding the future potential of Web3-based payment experiences.
To facilitate further discussions regarding future collaboration opportunities, the parties have entered into this MOU.

The MOU does not constitute a commitment by either party to launch any specific product, service, implementation, or commercial arrangement at this time. Both organizations will continue to explore potential areas of cooperation and evaluate possible frameworks for future collaboration.

Comments
Thomas Chou, Head of APAC, Canton Foundation
“We are pleased to begin discussions with NETSTARS regarding potential applications of blockchain technology in payment-related environments. We look forward to exploring opportunities for collaboration and exchanging ideas on how emerging technologies can contribute to future payment experiences.”

Tsuyoshi Ri, President and CEO, NETSTARS Co., Ltd.
“We are delighted that Canton Foundation shares an interest in the StarPay-X vision. Through this MOU, we look forward to exploring how Web3 technologies may contribute to future payment experiences while taking into account practical considerations such as privacy and compliance.”

About Canton Foundation
Canton Foundation is an independent non-profit organization responsible for supporting the governance and long-term development of the shared infrastructure of Canton Network. The Foundation promotes transparent decision-making, ecosystem-wide collaboration, and coordination among Global Synchronizer operators and network participants. Its mission is to help ensure that Canton Network remains a reliable, fair, and sustainable blockchain infrastructure for institutional and enterprise use.

About NETSTARS Co., Ltd.
NETSTARS is a payment service provider offering integrated cashless payment solutions centered on its flagship platform, StarPay. The company enables merchants to accept a wide range of QR code, mobile, and digital payment methods through a single integration, while also providing digital transformation-related services. Through its technology platform, NETSTARS supports the continued growth and development of a more convenient cashless society.