The stablecoin issuer and Japanese financial group plan to roll out cross-border FX settlement services as soon as next year, marking an early step toward a broader corporate payments platform.
Circle Internet Financial announced on Thursday that it has partnered with Nomura Holdings to build a digital asset settlement business, with a full corporate payment service in Japan targeted for launch by 2027.
The arrangement will allow Japanese companies to convert yen into USDC, Circle’s U.S. dollar–backed stablecoin, according to the announcement first reported by Nikkei. USDC is the second-largest dollar-pegged stablecoin globally, with a market capitalization of roughly $73.8 billion.
The service is intended for cross-border payments such as supplier settlements, transfers between overseas subsidiaries, and foreign exchange transactions.
The initiative focuses on Japan’s large import-export and corporate FX market, which processes about $440 billion in daily volume, according to Bank for International Settlements data. Unlike traditional bank transfers that can take several days to settle, the blockchain-based system aims to significantly accelerate settlement times.
The partnership follows recent regulatory progress in Japan. The Financial Services Agency has approved USDC under updated payment rules, making it the first global dollar stablecoin cleared for domestic corporate use. Circle operates in the country through Circle Japan, which already collaborates with SBI Holdings for distribution.
Nomura will oversee client onboarding, manage regulatory compliance, and connect the platform with existing banking infrastructure.
Over the next year, the partners plan to complete infrastructure development, enhance custody solutions, and finalize banking integrations ahead of the expected 2027 rollout.
