Circle’s USDC stablecoin is officially set to debut in Japan on March 26, following a groundbreaking regulatory approval by Japanese authorities — marking a key milestone for digital asset adoption in the country.
USDC Launches on SBI VC Trade After Regulatory Greenlight
Circle announced that USDC will be listed on the SBI VC Trade crypto exchange through a joint venture with Japanese financial powerhouse SBI Holdings and Circle Japan KK. The exchange received official approval on March 4 under Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) regulatory framework for stablecoins — the first of its kind in the nation.
This launch makes USDC the first U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin to gain formal listing approval in Japan, opening the door for broader adoption of blockchain-based finance in one of Asia’s most tech-savvy economies.
Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire highlighted the significance of this step in a March 24 post on X, noting it was the result of two years of work with regulators, banks, and partners.
“This unlocks tremendous opportunities not just in trading digital assets, but more broadly in payments, cross-border finance, commerce, and FX,” Allaire said.
More Exchange Listings Coming
After SBI VC Trade, Circle plans to expand USDC listings to other top Japanese exchanges, including Binance Japan, bitbank, and bitFlyer. Both bitbank and bitFlyer are among Japan’s largest trading platforms, each handling over $25 million in volume in the last 24 hours and collectively drawing nearly 2 million visits in the past month.
SBI Holdings CEO Yoshitaka Kitao praised the USDC launch, saying it aligns with the company’s broader goals to promote blockchain finance and financial inclusivity in Japan.
Global Expansion Continues
Circle is also gaining momentum globally. In February, both USDC and EURC (its euro-backed stablecoin) became the first digital assets approved under Dubai’s new stablecoin regime, allowing integration into payment systems, treasury services, and other financial tools within the Dubai International Financial Centre.
Despite trailing Tether (USDT) in market cap, USDC remains the second-largest stablecoin globally, currently valued at $59.7 billion, compared to USDT’s $143.8 billion, according to CoinGecko data.
As Circle continues to expand into regulated markets like Japan and Dubai, USDC is positioning itself as a key player in the future of digital payments and cross-border finance.
