Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire recently hinted that a USDC tap-to-pay feature will soon be available for Apple iPhone users. Allaire went to X (formerly Twitter) to say that the feature is “coming soon,” while urging wallet developers to “start their engines.”
The statement was made after Apple recently opted to open up the iPhone's NFC payment functionality to third-party applications. In a press releaseThe tech company notes that iOS 18.1 will enable the feature for developers. Specifically, it would be viable via Secure Element within their applications.
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USDC Tap-to-Pay Coming to iPhone? Circle CEO Says Get Ready
There is no denying the popularity of Apple products. The company has generated a remarkable $383.2 billion in revenue in 2023. Yet, over 52% of that came from iPhone sales alone. The mobile phone dominated the market. Now, it’s about to get a major crypto upgrade.
Indeed, Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire recently hinted that a USDC tap-to-pay feature is coming to Apple iPhone. The company recently said that its NFC payment feature is open to third-party apps. Therefore, it will be compatible with the second-largest stablecoin.
Also read: Circle Gets First Stablecoin License Under New EU MiCA Crypto Rules
Allaire further explained that he has “no relationship with Apple, and this has nothing to do with Apple Pay,” in a follow-up message. However, the NFC feature will make crypto wallets accessible for easier transactions. It would change the game even further in terms of crypto accessibility in everyday purchases.
Before the change, Apple Wallet and Apple Pay were the only applications that could use NFC on an iPhone. Additionally, Allaire said, the development “opens a powerful path for direct USDC payments to merchants.” It could also be used by other crypto wallets and tokens.