Japan’s biggest card network taps Circle to bring stablecoins to 40 million merchants

Finance Japan’s biggest card network taps Circle to bring stablecoins to 40 million merchants JCB and Circle will explore using USDC for cross-border payments and merchant transactions as Japan ramps up efforts to bring stablecoins into everyday commerce. By Olivier Acuna | Edited by Jamie Crawley Jul 14, 2026, 12:01 p.m. 2 min read Make preferred on Share Share this article Copy link X icon X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook Email Make preferred on JCB, Japan's largest bank card issuer with 140 million users worldwide, is partnering with Circle for stablecoin payments. (Rs1421/Wikimedia Commons) Summary Show JCB, Japan’s largest card network, has signed an agreement with Circle to explore using USDC stablecoins for cross-border payments and merchant transactions. The partnership will begin with a proof of concept for JCB’s internal fund transfers and aims to improve payment efficiency, cut remittance costs and ease currency exchange burdens for tourists. The initiative comes amid a broader push for stablecoin adoption in Japan, including pilots such as Lawson convenience stores testing yen-denominated stablecoin payments starting in August. Japan’s largest card network JCB has enlisted Circle (CRCL) to explore using stablecoins for cross-border payments and merchant transactions, the companies announced Tuesday . The two firms have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore stablecoin payments for merchants serving international visitors, as Japan’s payment industry accelerates efforts to introduce blockchain payments into everyday use across the country. JCB, which has 140 million users and 40 million merchants worldwide, and Circle will explore how stablecoins can enhance cross-border treasury operations and payments. Initial efforts will focus on a proof of concept for JCB's internal fund transfers. They will also explore ways to improve payment efficiency, reduce remittance costs and support broader cross-border payments using USDC, the world’s second-largest with a market capitalization of nearly $73 billion . The companies will also explore in-store stablecoin payments for merchants and international visitors to Japan. “Stablecoins are gaining attention around the world as a foundation for creating a new ecosystem in cashless societies, given their high level of convenience,” the statement noted. They highlighted that stablecoins bring a wide range of benefits, including “reducing the burden of currency exchange for inbound tourists, further improving the efficiency of fund settlement, and improving cash flow for merchants.” Tourists in Japan primarily use bank cards for payments, but there are spending limits, which can be bypassed with stablecoins, according to a report by Nikkei . The collaboration is part of a growing wave of stablecoin initiatives in Japan following regulatory changes that have opened the market to broader adoption. Circle has said it would partner with Nomura to develop a USDC-based foreign exchange settlement service for Japanese businesses as early as 2027. Lawson, one of Japan's largest convenience store chains, will accept stablecoins at its stores as part of a pilot that starts in August, according to a separate Nikkei report . The retailer plans to begin trials at its Lawson Takanawa Gateway City store in Tokyo with telecom operator KDDI and digital asset wallet provider Hashport, using KDDI's yen-denominated stablecoin, JPYC, the report said. 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By CoinDesk Research Jul 13, 2026 CEX trading volumes rose for the first time in five months in June, with spot climbing 15.3% to $1.11T and RWA perpetual volumes surging to a record $311B. Why it matters : CEX trading volumes rose for the first time in five months in June, with spot climbing 15.3% to $1.11T and RWA perpetual volumes surging to a record $311B. View Full Report More From Finance Prediction markets just crushed traditional sportsbooks in a massive $50 billion World Cup breakout Live updates: Bitcoin holds $62,600 as the Iran conflict reignites and CPI looms Mizuho says Circle bank approval doesn't solve USDC growth, stablecoin competition risks