Circle, Nomura Plan Stablecoin FX Settlement for Japan by 2027

Crypto News

Stablecoin issuer Circle and Japanese investment bank Nomura Holdings have reportedly agreed to launch a digital asset settlement business in Japan.

The companies plan to roll out a corporate payment service as early as 2027, according to a Nikkei

.

The service would let Japanese companies convert yen into USD Coin (

), Circle's dollar-pegged stablecoin, for cross-border transactions. This would reduce delays caused by banking hours and time zone differences compared to standard wire transfers, which typically take two to three business days to clear.

USDC is the world's second-largest stablecoin, with a market capitalization of $73.6 billion, according to CoinMarketCap data.

Deal Targets Japan's $440 Billion FX Market

The partnership targets Japan's corporate foreign exchange (FX) market, which handled $440 billion in daily transactions as of 2025, according to Bank for International Settlements data. The service is aimed at import, export, and corporate currency activity, including supplier payments and transfers between overseas affiliates.

Nomura will manage client onboarding in Japan, handle regulatory requirements, and connect the new platform to existing banking systems. Circle already distributes USDC in Japan through its local branch, Circle Japan, in partnership with SBI Holdings.