Jeremy Allaire, CEO of Circle, has generated excitement on X by suggesting that the USDC stablecoin will soon offer a tap-to-pay function on iPhones. This advancement is made possible as Apple has opened up its NFC chip to third-party app developers, signifying a major change in mobile payments.
Previously, only Apple Wallet and Apple Pay had access to the iPhone’s NFC chip. Now, Web3 and crypto wallet developers can incorporate NFC capabilities into their apps, allowing users to carry out tap-to-pay transactions with USDC.
This means that iPhone users will soon be able to use their devices to conduct USDC transactions through PoS terminals or even between two iPhones, with transaction details securely transmitted via NFC.
Allaire clarified that Circle has no affiliation with Apple, and this new feature is not connected to Apple Pay. Instead, it provides developers with the opportunity to create innovative payment solutions.
By utilising NFC in crypto wallets, developers can design systems where users authenticate transactions with Face ID and complete payments on the blockchain.
This development is not confined to USDC alone; it also has implications for other cryptocurrencies. It could be applied to NFTs, other stablecoins, and various certificates, thereby broadening the scope of mobile payments and digital asset transactions.
Allaire has also urged wallet developers to start integrating with Apple’s latest iOS SDKs to prepare their apps for this new feature. He further noted that PoS hardware and software companies should also update their systems to accept NFC-based payments and support USDC transactions.
Once this feature is rolled out, it is expected to revolutionise the way mobile payments are perceived, especially in the realm of cryptocurrencies.