Circle’s USDC stablecoin launches on Japan’s SBI VC Trade crypto exchange

Circle’s USDC stablecoin is set to launch on Japan’s SBI VC Trade crypto exchange, following regulatory approval granted three weeks prior.

Circle’s USDC stablecoin is set to launch on Japan’s SBI VC Trade crypto exchange, following regulatory approval granted three weeks prior. The March 24 announcement marks a significant step for USDC’s presence in the Japanese market.

The stablecoin will be listed on SBI VC Trade through a joint venture between SBI Holdings (1537.T) and Circle Japan KK. This follows SBI VC Trade securing the first regulatory approval under Japan’s Financial Services Agency’s stablecoin framework on March 4.

Circle plans to expand USDC listings to other major Japanese crypto exchanges, including Binance Japan, bitbank, and bitFlyer. Bitbank and bitFlyer are two significant players with their monthly website views totaling more than 1.85 million.

Announcing the approval on X, Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire said it follows two years of discussions with the Japanese regulator. Allaire added that the move also creates opportunities in payments, cross-border finance, commerce, and foreign exchange.

“We look forward to continuing to build on this partnership to bring more U.S. financial services innovation to Japan,” Allaire said.

SBI Holdings CEO Yoshitaka Kitao said the USDC launch would improve financial inclusion and encourage cryptocurrency innovation in Japan.

“This move also ties into our vision of the future for payments and blockchain-based financial services in Japan,” Kitao said.

Earlier this year, USDC and Circle’s EURC stablecoin were recognized as the first foreign stablecoins under Dubai’s Financial Services Authority’s new regime. The recognition permits firms in the Dubai International Financial Centre to use these stablecoins in various digital asset services.

At present, USDC is the second-largest stablecoin by market capitalization, with a market cap of $59.7 billion, compared to Tether’s USDT, which stands at $143.8 billion, according to CoinGecko.