Apple opens NFC technology, USDC may be adopted by iPhone?

Source: Blockchain Knight

Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire revealed in an August 14 statement that USDC Tap-to-Pay will soon be available on iPhone in response to Apple's recent updates.

"It will soon be possible to use USDC tap-to-pay on iPhone. Wallet developers, you can act now," Allaire said.

At the same time, Allaire clarified that Circle has no direct relationship or partnership with Apple or Apple Pay.

On August 14, Apple revealed that it will now allow third-party applications to use its NFC technology for transactions. This update will allow alternative payment systems to compete with Apple Pay, the main payment option for iPhone.

The news was announced after widespread regulatory pressure from entities such as the European Union.

Apple confirmed that the new feature will be available in the upcoming iOS18.1 update. With this version, developers will be able to use NFC contactless transactions in their applications through the Secure Element (SE) without relying on Apple Pay and Apple Wallet.

The USDC Tap-to-Pay app will take advantage of Apple's latest NFC technology for third-party developers. This change will enable a variety of wallet apps, including Web3 or Crypto assets, to use NFC for transactions.

According to Allaire, iOS wallets that support USDC can simplify the payment process by allowing devices to exchange transaction information with a simple tap.

For example, a point-of-sale (PoS) system can pass the iPhone's blockchain address or payment amount, prompting the user to confirm the transaction using FaceID or other authentication methods. The application will then process the payment through the blockchain.

Allaire believes that this development can facilitate direct payments of USDC to merchants and enable the trading of other digital assets, such as NFTs or stablecoins such as EURC.

Therefore, he encourages wallet developers to integrate the latest Apple iOSSDK to prepare for the launch of "peer-to-peer" payments for USDC.

Members of the Crypto Asset community welcomed the move, believing that it will promote the next stage of Crypto Asset applications.

Idan Levin, partner at venture capital firm Collider VC, said: "Reduce payment steps and meet user needs. Every small step will accumulate into a huge leap, and the time will come when billions of people use public blockchains."