Japan's Largest Credit Card Network JCB Signs Partnership Agreement with Circle to Explore USDC Cross-Border Payments and Merchant Applications

According to CoinDesk, Japan's largest credit card network JCB has officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Circle. The two parties will jointly explore the use of the USDC stablecoin for cross-border payments and merchant transaction scenarios. JCB has 140 million users and 40 million merchants globally. The initial collaboration will focus on a Proof of Concept (PoC) for internal fund transfers within JCB, and further explore reducing remittance costs, improving cross-border payment efficiency, and in-store stablecoin payment solutions for international tourists visiting Japan. This collaboration is a microcosm of the accelerated implementation of stablecoin applications in Japan. Previously, Circle announced it would collaborate with Nomura Securities to launch USDC-based foreign exchange settlement services as early as 2027; Japanese convenience store giant Lawson also plans to launch a stablecoin payment pilot in August, using KDDI's yen stablecoin JPYC.