JCB Partners With Circle to Bring USDC Stablecoin Payments to Millions of Merchants

Japan’s largest card network, JCB, has signed an agreement with Circle to explore using USDC stablecoins for cross border payments and merchant transactions worldwide.

MOU Targets Cross-Border Payments and Merchant Use

JCB, which serves 140 million users and 40 million merchants globally, will work with Circle to test stablecoin use in cross-border treasury operations. The first step is a proof of concept for JCB’s internal fund transfers, followed by efforts to cut remittance costs and improve payment efficiency using USDC, currently valued at nearly $73 billion in market cap.

Focus on Tourist Spending and In-Store Payments

The companies also plan to explore in-store stablecoin payments aimed at international visitors to Japan. Tourists currently rely mainly on bank cards, which often come with spending limits that stablecoins could help avoid.

Part of a Broader Stablecoin Push in Japan

This deal follows recent regulatory changes in Japan that have opened the door to wider stablecoin adoption. Circle has also partnered with Nomura on a USDC based foreign exchange settlement service expected in 2027. Separately, convenience store chain Lawson plans to accept stablecoins starting in August, using a yen-denominated stablecoin alongside partners KDDI and Hashport.