JCB and Circle Sign MOU to Explore Collaboration Utilizing Stablecoins

JCB Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Takayoshi Futae, hereinafter "JCB") announces that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with an affiliate of Circle Internet Group, Inc. (hereinafter "Circle") (NYSE: CRCL) to explore collaboration opportunities utilizing stablecoins.

Under this MOU, JCB and Circle will jointly explore collaboration opportunities to enhance cross-border payments and create new payment experiences for merchants and consumers by combining Circle’s stablecoin payment infrastructure with JCB’s global merchant network.

Background of the MOU

Stablecoins are gaining global attention as a foundational element for new ecosystems in cashless societies due to their high usability, and the market is expanding rapidly. In particular, the use of stablecoins in payments is expected to bring diverse benefits, such as reducing foreign exchange burdens for inbound tourists, further improving payment efficiency, and enhancing cash flow for merchants.

In this context, Circle has built a comprehensive stablecoin and blockchain infrastructure—including USDC, EURC, Gateway, and Arc—to support next-generation payment and settlement applications.

As a global payment company, JCB actively explores the adoption of new technologies that enhance payment experiences for consumers and merchants and improve the efficiency of payment infrastructure. This MOU establishes a collaborative framework for JCB and Circle to continuously evaluate the applicability of stablecoin-based payment infrastructure in global payment use cases.

Areas of Collaboration

Under the MOU, the two companies will primarily explore collaboration opportunities in the following areas:

1. Cross-Border Treasury and Payments

The companies will explore possibilities for enhancing cross-border treasury operations and payments using USDC. In the initial phase, they plan to consider a proof-of-concept (PoC) focused on internal fund transfers within JCB. They will also examine payment efficiency, reduced remittance costs, and the potential to support broader cross-border payment flows.

2. Stablecoin-Enabled Payments at Japanese Merchants

With in-store payments by domestic merchants and inbound tourists in mind, the companies will explore payment experiences using stablecoins. They will also examine interoperability across multiple blockchain networks and technologies that support seamless payment experiences.

JCB and Circle will continue to explore additional collaboration opportunities beyond these initial areas, aiming to deliver new payment experiences to consumers and merchants through stablecoin-based platforms.

Initiatives Toward Social Implementation of Stablecoin Payments in Japan

In January 2026, JCB began collaborating with Digital Garage, Inc. (hereinafter "Digital Garage") and Resona Holdings, Inc. (hereinafter "Resona HD") to promote the social implementation of stablecoin payments (※). In this collaboration, Digital Garage serves as a partner, and through pilot experiments on stablecoin payments at physical stores, JCB is identifying challenges and exploring solutions toward realizing stablecoin payments at domestic merchants.

JCB will contribute to the social implementation of stablecoin payments both domestically and internationally, as well as to the creation of new payment ecosystems, through collaborations with Circle, Digital Garage, Resona HD, and other partners.

(※) Press release dated January 16, 2026: "JCB, Digital Garage, and Resona Holdings Begin Collaboration Toward Social Implementation of Stablecoin Payments"

https://www.global.jcb/ja/press/2026/202601161100_others.pdf

JCB aims to respond to the expectations of each customer with the spirit of 'Omotenashi' (hospitality) and meticulous care. We continue to strive to be a one-of-a-kind brand for our customers—something they find convenient, reliable, and worthwhile to own.

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