Japan’s biggest card network taps Circle to bring stablecoins to 40 million merchants
CoinDesk 2026-07-14 12:01:50
Context: Japan's largest card network, JCB, has partnered with Circle, a leading digital currency company, to explore the use of stablecoins for everyday commerce. The partnership aims to bring stablecoin payments to approximately 40 million merchants in Japan. This collaboration is part of Japan's efforts to ramp up the adoption of stablecoins for cross-border payments and merchant transactions.
Key Facts
- JCB and Circle have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore the use of USDC, a stablecoin issued by Circle, for cross-border payments and merchant transactions in Japan.
- The partnership aims to bring stablecoin payments to approximately 40 million merchants in Japan, potentially expanding the use of stablecoins in everyday commerce.
- The collaboration is focused on leveraging USDC for merchant transactions, which could facilitate more efficient and cost-effective cross-border payments and domestic transactions.