Gate News: On March 19, a subsidiary of SBI Holdings announced the launch of Japan’s first licensed USDC lending service for the public, allowing users to borrow USDC on the platform and earn fixed-term interest. The initial product has a 12-week term with an annual interest rate of up to 10%, significantly higher than Japan’s dollar time deposit rates. Under normal market conditions, the platform’s annual interest rate is about 5%, with a borrowing limit of 5,000 USDC per transaction.
SBI VC Trade has become a pioneer in the Japanese market with its regulated USDC lending service. The company has been operating USDC since March 2025, accumulating extensive market experience and operational capabilities. The lending product combines blockchain technology with SBI Group’s financial expertise to offer investors a stable and high-yield option.
Compared to traditional dollar time deposits, USDC lending not only offers higher interest rates but may also provide tax advantages. According to Japanese tax law, USDC earnings are considered miscellaneous income, tax-free below 200,000 yen, while foreign currency deposits typically incur a fixed withholding tax of 20.315%. Borrowers automatically earn returns during the loan period without additional actions, making it easy for first-time dollar investors to participate.
The standard lending period is 12 weeks, with customer returns calculated daily based on the annual interest rate. Borrowed USDC may be subleased by SBI VC Trade, which involves counterparty risk; funds are not segregated, and stability depends on the company’s operations. Customers cannot terminate the contract early but will receive the same amount of USDC at maturity, ensuring fixed returns. New tokens resulting from blockchain forks are not included in compensation.
SBI is also expanding the USDC ecosystem through partnerships with Circle Internet Financial and Startale, increasing the use of stablecoins in Japan. This USDC lending product not only complements SBI’s existing digital asset services but also provides Japanese investors with a regulated, high-yield, and easy-to-operate stablecoin market participation method, further promoting the development of USDC within Japan’s digital asset ecosystem.
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
Circle quietly wires USDC into crypto’s new settlement spine
Circle's new USDC Bridge aims to turn cross‑chain transfers into a near‑invisible backend plumbing layer for on‑chain dollars, replacing fragmented bridges with a single bank‑style ledger experience operated end‑to‑end by Circle itself.
Summary
Circle has launched a native USDC Bridge, a burn‑a
Cryptonews12h ago
Newly Created Wallet Deposits $1.99M USDC to Hyperliquid, Opens 5x Leveraged ASTER Long
Gate News message, April 18 — According to Onchain Lens, a newly created wallet deposited $1.99 million USDC to Hyperliquid and opened a 5x leveraged long position in ASTER.
GateNews16h ago
Circle faces a class action lawsuit from Drift; USDC freeze obligations spark legal debate
Representing more than 100 members, Joshua McCollum, a Drift Protocol investor, filed a lawsuit against Circle on Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. The lawsuit alleges that in the April 1 theft incident involving approximately $280 million worth of Drift Protocol, Circle allowed the attacker to transfer roughly $230 million USDC to Ethereum via a cross-chain transfer protocol.
MarketWhisper04-17 02:45
Circle Faces Class Action Lawsuit Over $230M Unblocked USDC in Drift Protocol Attack
Circle faces a class action lawsuit for failing to freeze $230 million in stolen USDC after the Drift Protocol attack. Plaintiffs argue that Circle's protocols allowed attackers to move and convert the stolen funds without intervention, raising concerns about the company's responsibilities in monitoring cross-chain transfers.
GateNews04-17 01:46
New Wallet Deposits $7.45M USDC to HyperLiquid and Purchases 169,838 HYPE
Gate News message, a newly created wallet deposited $7.45M USDC into HyperLiquid and bought 169,838 HYPE at $43.86. Of that, 10,000 HYPE has been sent for staking.
GateNews04-17 00:34
Drift Protocol Switches From USDC to USDT, Secures $127.5M Recovery Support From Tether
Drift Protocol announced a recovery plan backed by $150 million after a $280 million exploit, transitioning from USDC to USDT, impacting 128,000 users. The plan links user balance restoration to ongoing trading, following criticism of Circle's response to the hack.
GateNews04-16 20:31
