JCB and Circle are set to utilize USDC for international payments and merchant transactions as Japan enhances its stablecoin integration into daily commerce.
By Olivier Acuna|Edited by Jamie Crawley Jul 14, 2026, 12:01 p.m. 2 min readMake preferred on ShareShare this articleCopy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmailMake preferred on JCB, Japan's leading bank card issuer with 140 million users globally, is collaborating with Circle for stablecoin transactions. (Rs1421/Wikimedia Commons)SummaryShow- JCB, the largest card network in Japan, has entered into a partnership with Circle to investigate the use of USDC stablecoins for international transactions and merchant activities.
- The collaboration will commence with a proof of concept for JCB’s internal transfers, aiming to enhance payment efficiency, lower remittance fees, and alleviate currency exchange challenges for tourists.
- This effort is part of a larger initiative for stablecoin adoption in Japan, which includes Lawson convenience stores testing yen-pegged stablecoin payments starting in August.
Japan's largest card network, JCB, has teamed up with Circle (CRCL) to investigate the application of stablecoins for cross-border transactions and merchant payments, as announced by the two companies on Tuesday.
They have established a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore stablecoin utilization for merchants catering to international customers, as Japan's payment sector intensifies efforts to integrate blockchain-based payments into daily life.
With 140 million users and 40 million merchants globally, JCB and Circle will assess how stablecoins can enhance international treasury operations and payments. Their initial focus will be on developing a proof of concept for JCB’s internal fund transfers, alongside exploring methods to improve payment efficiency, minimize remittance costs, and facilitate broader cross-border payments using USDC, the second-largest stablecoin with a market cap nearing $73 billion.
The partnership will also investigate in-store stablecoin payments for merchants and international tourists visiting Japan.
“Stablecoins are becoming increasingly prominent globally as a basis for establishing a new ecosystem in cashless societies, due to their high convenience,” the statement emphasized.
They noted that stablecoins offer numerous advantages, such as “lessening the currency exchange burden for inbound tourists, optimizing fund settlement efficiency, and enhancing merchants' cash flow.”
While tourists in Japan primarily utilize bank cards for payments, there are limitations on spending, which can be circumvented by using stablecoins, as reported by Nikkei.
This collaboration is part of a burgeoning trend of stablecoin initiatives in Japan following regulatory reforms that have facilitated wider adoption. Circle has also announced a partnership with Nomura aimed at creating a USDC-based foreign exchange settlement service for Japanese firms by 2027.
Additionally, Lawson, one of the major convenience store chains in Japan, is set to accept stablecoins at its locations as part of a pilot program beginning in August, according to another Nikkei report. The retailer plans to initiate trials at its Lawson Takanawa Gateway City store in Tokyo in collaboration with telecom operator KDDI and digital asset wallet provider Hashport, utilizing KDDI's yen-pegged stablecoin, JPYC, as per the report.
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Why it matters:
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