Share this article
Circle to Launch USDC in Japan on March 26 With SBI Partnership
Circle and SBI got the green light to launch USDC in the country earlier this month.
Updated Mar 25, 2025, 5:14 a.m. Published Mar 25, 2025, 5:00 a.m.
What to know:
- Circle plans to launch the USDC stablecoin in Japan on March 26, in partnership with SBI Holdings, following regulatory approval from the Japan Financial Services Agency.
- According to a 2024 report from Circle, the Asia-Pacific region, including Japan, accounts for 29% of global digital currency transaction volume.
Circle plans to launch USDC in Japan on March 26 through a partnership with local heavyweight SBI Holdings, marking a significant milestone for both the global stablecoin market and Japan’s blockchain ecosystem.
“Japan has long been at the forefront of the adoption of Web3 and blockchain technology, and Japan’s regulatory leadership has similarly been out in front on clear rules for the use of stablecoins in the Japan financial system,” said Jeremy Allaire, co-founder and CEO of Circle said in a release.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
The launch comes weeks after Circle and SBI received regulatory approval from the Japan Financial Services Agency (JFSA) earlier in March under the country's electronics payment framework.
Allaire said in a post on X that Circle had spent two years engaging with regulators in Japan in preparation for the launch.
“We believe this initiative will enhance financial accessibility and drive digital asset innovation, aligning with our broader vision for the future of payments and blockchain-based finance in Japan,” Yoshitaka Kitao, representative director, chairman, president and CEO of SBI Holdings said in a statement.
USDC currently has a market cap of around $59.7 billion, according to CoinGecko data.
The Philippines largest digital wallet, GCash, recently added support for USDC.
According to a 2024 report from Circle, the Asia-Pacific region accounts for 29% of global digital currency transaction volume, ahead of Western Europe at 22% and North America at 19%.
More For You
What to know:
- As of October 2025, GoPlus has generated $4.7M in total revenue across its product lines. The GoPlus App is the primary revenue driver, contributing $2.5M (approx. 53%), followed by the SafeToken Protocol at $1.7M.
- GoPlus Intelligence's Token Security API averaged 717 million monthly calls year-to-date in 2025 , with a peak of nearly 1 billion calls in February 2025. Total blockchain-level requests, including transaction simulations, averaged an additional 350 million per month.
- Since its January 2025 launch , the $GPS token has registered over $5B in total spot volume and $10B in derivatives volume in 2025. Monthly spot volume peaked in March 2025 at over $1.1B , while derivatives volume peaked the same month at over $4B.
More For You
Crypto exchange HashKey's shares fall 5% on trading debut in Hong Kong
Investors questioned whether Hong Kong’s dominant licensed exchange can turn surging volumes and regulatory advantage into sustainable profits.
What to know:
- HashKey Holdings' shares fell about 5% in their Hong Kong trading debut, highlighting investor caution despite the company's dominant market position.
- The company reported significant losses due to its ultra-low fee strategy, which has not kept pace with operating costs.
- HashKey's growth is increasingly tied to Hong Kong's regulatory framework, affecting its market outlook.
Top Stories
