JCB signs Circle MOU to test stablecoin payments in Japan
Japan’s largest domestic payment network, JCB, signed an MOU with Circle to explore USDC for cross-border payments and merchant transactions. The first phase will test USDC for JCB’s internal cross-border fund transfers and evaluate stablecoin payments for merchants in Japan serving international visitors. The companies will also examine interoperability across multiple blockchain networks. The deal builds on JCB’s separate stablecoin testing with Digital Garage and Resona Holdings for in-store payments in Japan. No commercial rollout timeline was given. The move reflects accelerating stablecoin adoption in Japan, where firms are testing blockchain-based settlement for retail and corporate use. Japan already has a legal framework for fiat-backed stablecoins, and broader crypto regulation is also advancing.
