Apple’s NFC upgrade paves way for USDC tap-to-pay on iPhones, Circle CEO says

Jeremy Allaire, the CEO of Circle, revealed that USDC Tap-to-Pay could soon be made possible on iPhones in response to Apple’s recent update, according to an Aug. 14 statement.

Allaire said:

“Tap to pay using USDC on iPhones incoming soon. Wallet devs, start your engines.”

Meanwhile, Allaire clarified that Circle has no direct relationship or partnership with Apple or Apple Pay.

On Aug. 14, Apple revealed that it will now permit third-party applications to use its NFC (Near Field Communication) technology for transactions. This update will allow alternative payment systems to compete with Apple Pay—the iPhone’s dominant payment option.

The announcement follows extensive regulatory pressure from entities such as the European Union. Apple confirmed the new feature will be available with the upcoming iOS 18.1 update. With this version, developers can use NFC contactless transactions through the Secure Element (SE) in their apps, independent of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet.

The USDC Tap-to-Pay application will utilize Apple’s newly available NFC technology for third-party developers. This change will enable various wallet apps, including those for Web3 or crypto, to use NFC for transactions.

According to Allaire, iOS wallets supporting USDC could streamline payments by allowing devices to exchange transaction information through a simple tap. For instance, a point-of-sale (PoS) system could communicate the iPhone’s blockchain address or payment amount, prompting the user to confirm the transaction using FaceID or another authentication method. The app would then process the payment via blockchain.

Allaire suggested that this development could facilitate direct USDC payments to merchants and enable transactions for other digital assets, such as NFTs or stablecoins like EURC.

Hence, he encouraged wallet developers to integrate the latest Apple iOS SDKs in preparation for the USDC Tap-to-Pay launch.

Crypto community members have welcomed the initiative, stating that this would drive the next phase of crypto adoption.

Idan Levin, a partner at venture capital firm Collider VC, stated:

“Less clicks, tapping, meeting users where they are—each one of those will be another small step that will accumulate into a singular moment —billions of people using public blockchains.”

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