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

FinanceJapan’s biggest card network taps Circle to bring stablecoins to 40 million merchantsJCB 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 readMake preferred on ShareShare this articleCopy linkX iconX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmailMake preferred on SummaryShowJCB, 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.“S…

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

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