NEC, Ava Labs Explore Biometric Travel Payments
The companies signed a memorandum of understanding to study identity verification and stablecoin payments on Avalanche, with Japan's inbound tourism as an initial target.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Asia
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NEC Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding with Ava Labs on July 10, 2026, to explore biometric identity verification and stablecoin payments on the Avalanche network. The partnership is in an exploratory phase and nothing has launched.
Why it matters
Japan recorded 42.68 million inbound visitors in 2025, and the proposal targets that visitor base as an initial use case. Japan's Payment Services Act lays groundwork for stablecoins to be used as electronic payment instruments, which may shape how such a system could operate.
Japan drew 42.68 million inbound visitors in 2025, the market the initial use case targets. The whitepaper describes a proof-of-concept foundation only, and no pilot locations or launch dates have been disclosed.
The players
NEC Corporation
A Japanese multinational information technology and networking company that develops biometric identity systems such as its FaceVC solution.
Ava Labs
The company behind the Avalanche blockchain network, which provides infrastructure for permissioned and public blockchain applications.
The details
The proposed system issues visitors verifiable credentials tied to biometric identity, using NEC's FaceVC solution, with raw biometric data kept off-chain in the user's wallet. A permissioned Avalanche Layer 1 would handle identity registration, a dedicated payment chain called SETTL would process stablecoin transactions, and Avalanche's public C-Chain would carry rewards and promotional tokens.
Timeline
2025: Japan recorded 42.68 million inbound visitors.
July 10, 2026: NEC announced the memorandum of understanding with Ava Labs.
Travel Outlook
The proposal extends Avalanche's multi-chain design, which separates permissioned and public networks, into a biometric identity and payment system for inbound tourists. It fits a wider effort to reduce friction for visitors to Japan, which recorded 42.68 million inbound visits in 2025.
No pilot or commercial service is available to travelers yet, so current visitors to Japan should continue using existing payment and entry methods. Anyone interested should watch for announced proof-of-concept deployments before changing travel plans.
The takeaway
The proposal is an early-stage concept, and its practical value will depend on whether proof-of-concept work produces a working system. Travelers should treat it as a possible future option rather than a current change.
Further reading
For more on the destinations involved, see our Asia travel coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Crypto Briefing.
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