Circle explores partnership with Nomura brokerage to enable Japanese companies to use stablecoins for cross-border remittances by 2027.

Stablecoin issuer Circle is reportedly exploring a partnership with Japan’s leading securities firm Nomura, with the plan to launch a foreign-currency instant settlement service for Japanese companies as early as 2027 at the fastest—improving cross-border payment efficiency through stablecoins. If it comes to pass, this would be Circle’s second move in the Japanese market. Previously, Circle had already laid the groundwork through its collaboration with SBI Group, making USDC the first global dollar stablecoin approved by Japan’s Financial Services Agency (JFSA) and officially launched.
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Key Takeaways

• Circle and Japan’s securities firm Nomura are partnering, aiming to launch a stablecoin foreign-currency instant settlement service for Japanese companies as early as 2027.
• In Japan, Circle has already completed the USDC launch through SBI Group; Nomura is its second major Japanese financial partner.
• Nomura’s Laser Digital and multiple Japanese banks are jointly testing stablecoin securities settlement as well, with the timeline also set for 2027.

Stablecoin issuer Circle and Japan’s securities giant Nomura (Nomura) are exploring potential cooperation, and reports say that, if the plan goes smoothly, they could launch a “foreign-currency instant settlement” service for Japanese companies as early as 2027. The idea is to let companies make cross-border payments without having to wait for the bank T+2 clearing process, with funds arriving on-chain in nearly seconds using stablecoins.

This is not Circle’s first move in Japan. Circle has already built its foundation through SBI Group: USDC is the first global dollar stablecoin approved by Japan’s Financial Services Agency (JFSA), and SBI VC Trade has officially gone live for users. Now, by exploring the possibility of partnering with Nomura, Circle is clearly not looking to rely on just one “leg” in Japan.

Cross-border payments go from “waiting days” to “waiting seconds”

Traditional corporate cross-border remittances go through the banking system, and often require several business days to settle, while also incurring intermediary bank fees and foreign exchange (FX) costs. The concept of stablecoin settlement compresses this timeframe to near-instant, allowing funds to move directly on-chain and removing multiple layers of intermediaries.

This is especially appealing to Japanese companies. Japan is a major global country for cross-border trade and investment, and companies make large volumes of payments abroad—meaning the time cost and fees of the current process are not low. What Circle and Nomura are targeting this time is precisely to move stablecoins from being an “investment vehicle” to a more practical position as a “corporate treasury tool.”

Nomura itself is no stranger to stablecoins

It’s worth noting that Nomura has already been active in the stablecoin space. Its digital assets subsidiary Laser Digital has previously explored the possibility of issuing yen and dollar stablecoins, and it has also tested using stablecoins for securities settlement with Daiwa Securities and Japan’s three largest banks, with the timeline likewise set for 2027. In other words, Nomura is already moving in this direction, and Circle’s entry is a match of mutual needs between the two sides—not a one-way attempt to persuade.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the “foreign-currency instant settlement” service from the Circle–Nomura partnership?

It is a service that enables businesses to complete cross-border payments instantly on the blockchain using stablecoins (such as USDC), replacing the traditional bank T+2 process that typically takes several business days to settle. It significantly shortens waiting times and reduces intermediary transaction costs.

What is USDC’s legal status in Japan?

USDC is currently the first global dollar stablecoin formally approved by Japan’s Financial Services Agency (JFSA). Through its collaboration with SBI Group, Circle has already enabled USDC to go live on the SBI VC Trade platform for Japanese users to trade.