The two firms plan to implement cross-border foreign exchange settlements starting next year.
By Olivier Acuna|Edited by Omkar Godbole Jun 25, 2026, 12:29 p.m. 2 min readMake preferred on ShareShare this articleCopy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmailMake preferred on Nomura Holdings has teamed up with Circle to target a vast foreign exchange market using USDC for quicker, cost-effective transactions. (Hamihoko/Wikimedia Commons)SummaryShow- Circle and Nomura are set to introduce a USDC-based digital asset settlement and corporate payment solution in Japan as soon as 2027, enabling businesses to convert yen into the dollar-pegged stablecoin.
- The initiative aims to streamline Japan’s significant import, export, and corporate currency sectors by utilizing blockchain technology to minimize cross-border and foreign-exchange transfer durations from days to mere minutes.
- This collaboration comes in light of Japan's revised payment regulations that have authorized USDC for domestic corporate applications, with Nomura managing client onboarding, regulatory compliance, and integration with current banking frameworks.
Circle Internet Financial, a stablecoin issuer based in Boston, revealed on Thursday that it has partnered with the Japanese financial entity Nomura Holdings to establish a digital asset settlement enterprise. They aim to roll out a corporate payment service in Japan by 2027.
This agreement will enable Japanese enterprises to swap yen for USDC, Circle's stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar, as reported in an announcement first covered by Nikkei. With a market capitalization of $73.8 billion, USDC is currently the second-largest dollar-pegged stablecoin globally.
The Circle stablecoin can facilitate cross-border supplier payments, transactions between international affiliates, and foreign exchange settlements.
This venture targets Japan's import, export, and corporate currency markets. According to data from the Bank for International Settlements as of 2025, Japan's foreign exchange market processes $440 billion in daily trades. Typically, standard bank transfers take two to three business days to clear transactions between yen and other currencies, but this blockchain solution could significantly accelerate that timeline.
The Circle-Nomura partnership follows recent changes to local regulations. Japan's Financial Services Agency has authorized USDC under its updated payment legislation, marking it as the first global dollar stablecoin permitted for corporate use domestically. Circle operates this initiative through Circle Japan, its local branch, which has already established distribution partnerships with SBI Holdings.
Nomura will oversee the onboarding of clients in Japan, manage regulatory issues, and link the platform to pre-existing banking systems.
In the upcoming year, the partners plan to finalize the necessary infrastructure, enhance custody solutions, and complete banking integrations ahead of the anticipated 2027 launch.
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CEX Volumes Drop to Lowest Since September 2024 as RWA Perps Hit Record High
CEX Volumes Drop to Lowest Since September 2024 as RWA Perps Hit Record High
In May, combined exchange volumes fell 3.45% to $4.41T; the lowest since September 2024. RWA perpetual futures volumes rose 10.4% against the trend, hitting a new all-time high.
By CoinDesk ResearchJun 15, 2026In May, combined exchange volumes fell 3.45% to $4.41T; the lowest since September 2024. RWA perpetual futures volumes rose 10.4% against the trend, hitting a new all-time high.
Why it matters:
In May, combined exchange volumes fell 3.45% to $4.41T; the lowest since September 2024. RWA perpetual futures volumes rose 10.4% against the trend, hitting a new all-time high.
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