JCB to pilot USDC payments for tourists in Japan

Leading Japanese card company JCB plans to launch a pilot program for USDC payments targeting tourists visiting Japan by the end of the year, Nikkei reported. In collaboration with a subsidiary of Circle, the issuer of the dollar-pegged stablecoin USDC, JCB will initially test the service at a single store in Tokyo popular with tourists. The company will also consider expanding the payment option to other merchants following the trial. This initiative aims to simplify currency exchange procedures, lower transaction fees, and improve convenience for visitors to Japan.