Japan is going all-in on stablecoins right now. Just days ago, Japan’s FSA finalized new rules clarifying the legal status of foreign trust-based stablecoins, creating a clear pathway for them to operate in Japan as Electronic Payment Instruments effective June 1. This builds on the LDP’s push for a national AI and blockchain financial system with strong support for yen stablecoins and tokenized deposits. And right on cue LINE, one of Asia’s biggest super-apps with 200 million monthly active users across Japan, Taiwan, Thailand & Indonesia, rolled out official JPYC, a yen-pegged stablecoin, support in its Unifi wallet on May 22 for real payments, transfers & rewards. But what most don’t realize is that there’s a little-known blockchain quietly powering the efficient settlement behind LINE’s Unifi rollout and broader Asia expansion. It’s Kaia. Just 2 days after launch, JPYC circulation on Kaia already surpassed ¥100 million. Not only that, South Korea’s largest bank, KB Kookmin piloted KRW stablecoin for offline QR payments and global remittances on Kaia. It also already has native USDT and plans for multiple Asian currency stables with Unifi. $KAIA seems like it’s quietly shaping up to be a sleeping giant for the Asian stablecoin sector. One to monitor closely as the Asian stablecoin market grows and gets clear regulations.

61 years ago this week, Jan & Dean’s “Surf City” became the first surf song to hit No. 1 on the #Hot100#. 📈🏄‍♂️ The song was co-written by @TheBeachBoys' @BrianWilsonLive, who later hit No. 1 with the group’s classic hits “I Get Around,” “Help Me, Rhonda,” “Good Vibrations” and “Kokomo.” The band helped popularize surf music with “Surfin,” “Surfin’ Safari,” and “Surfin’ U.S.A.,” which all reached the Hot 100 before “Surf City.” Surf music was having a moment on the charts that week in 1963. Some of the other songs on the chart were Chubby Checker’s “Surf Party,” Al Casey’s “Surfin’ Hootenanny,” and the Surfaris' genre staple, “Wipe Out.” “Surf City” earned Jan & Dean its only No. 1 hit, though it charted 23 additional songs, including “The Little Old Lady (From Pasadena)” and “Dead Man’s Curve,” which both reach the top 10 in 1964. Take a look at the top 10 that week, and swipe to see the full chart.