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CEO of stablecoin issuer Circle, Jeremy Allaire said that the company intends to use USD Coin (USDC) for tap-and-go payments on iPhones. This is in line with Apple’s choice to let other developers access its safe payments chips, therefore enabling more general integration of blockchain-based payment systems on the widely used gadget.
In an August 14 post on X, Allaire said Circle is getting ready to use Apple’s NFC chip and Secure Element (SE) to enable direct blockchain payments on iPhones. Previously limited to Apple Wallet app and Apple Pay, this shift is intended to allow consumers to conduct point-of-sale purchases using USDC simply touching their iPhones.
Allaire said that this capability would let a point-of-sale system interact directly with an iPhone, therefore defining the blockchain address for USDC payment receipt. Users might then validate the transaction using FaceID, therefore starting a safe blockchain transaction to finish the payment.
Broader Implications for Crypto Payments
Apple’s choice to let developers use its NFC chip is noteworthy not just for USDC but also for other blockchain-based applications such NFTs, other certifications, and other stablecoins including EURC. With low-performance, low-fee blockchain networks especially, Allaire pointed out that this might simplify direct-to–merchant payments.
Apple’s API access is now restricted, however, to developers in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States—with no reference to the European Union.
Relatedly, Mastercard and Baanx have teamed with MetaMask, a crypto wallet company, to test a self-custody debit card in the UK and the EU, therefore enabling customers to pay for regular things straight from their crypto wallets. This project is yet another major step toward incorporating cryptocurrencies into regular banking institutions.