Circle

Circle is integrating AI throughout its product development, engineering, and deployment processes, reporting tangible acceleration in product velocity. This follows recent statements from CEO Jeremy Allaire about building internet financial infrastructure at the intersection of AI, stablecoins, and blockchains. The company anticipates AI agents will drive exponential growth and dramatically increase the velocity of money through autonomous transactions. Circle positions itself as creating the foundational economic infrastructure needed for this emerging era of AI-driven commerce.

Circle is building infrastructure for AI agents to autonomously conduct cross-chain USDC transactions at near-zero cost through Circle Gateway capabilities. **Key developments:** - AI agents can now execute autonomous transactions using USDC across different blockchains - Circle Gateway enables these cross-chain operations with minimal fees - The company hosted an agent-only hackathon to advance development - Circle joined the [Agentic AI Foundation](https://aaif.io/press/agentic-ai-foundation-welcomes-97-new-members-as-demand-for-open-collaborative-agent-standardization-increases/?utm_content=370951859&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin&hss_channel=lcp-111268938) to support open standards **Technical approach:** Circle is integrating Gateway with x402, an open payment protocol designed for agent transactions. The company is also working with Google on Agent2Agent (A2A) and contributing to the Agent Payments Protocol (AP2). The infrastructure aims to create new monetization models by enabling machine-to-machine micropayments using programmable, internet-native money that can move globally in real time.

**Infrastructure development is advancing cross-chain capabilities** The Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol (CCTP) is being positioned as foundational infrastructure for moving tokenized assets between different blockchains. The protocol aims to enable: - Tokenized stocks and investment funds - Bank deposits - Stablecoins These assets can now transfer across different blockchain networks without friction. The development represents progress in blockchain interoperability—the ability for separate networks to communicate and exchange value. **Technical context** Previous work on blockchain interoperability, including Chainlink's Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP), has focused on allowing data and assets to flow between chains. The current CCTP development builds on these earlier efforts to create what developers describe as "highways for value movement." The protocol addresses a longstanding challenge in blockchain technology: isolated networks that couldn't easily exchange assets or information.

Circle has launched **USDCx** on Cardano through its xReserve platform, bringing cross-chain USDC liquidity to the network. **What is USDCx?** - A stablecoin backed 1:1 by USDC held in Circle's xReserve - Enables payments, lending, trading, borrowing, and liquidity provision - Works without third-party bridges for trust-minimized transfers **Launch Partners** Three Cardano DeFi applications support USDCx at launch: Liqwid Finance, Minswap, and SundaeSwap. **Early Adopter Incentive** IOG is covering all bridging costs from USDC to USDCx for the first 10 days, removing fees for early users. Learn more: [Circle's announcement](http://www.circle.com/blog/usdcx-on-cardano-now-available-via-circle-xreserve)

Circle has launched its crosschain forwarding service for Bridge Kit and Gateway, expanding beyond the CCTP-only version released in January. **Key Features:** - Automates destination-chain execution for crosschain transfers - Reduces transfer times and operational costs - Lowers third-party risk through Circle's managed service **Supported Networks:** The service works with routes to Arbitrum, Avalanche, Base, Ethereum, HyperEVM, Ink, Linea, Monad, Optimism, Polygon, Sei, Sonic, Unichain, and World Chain. Additional blockchains are expected. **Developer Resources:** - [Bridge Kit forwarding tutorial](http://developers.circle.com/bridge-kit/tutorials/use-forwarding-service) - [Gateway forwarding reference](http://developers.circle.com/gateway/references/forwarding-service) This builds on Circle's January launch of forwarding for CCTP, extending automation capabilities across their broader product suite.

**Canza Finance**, a Circle Alliance Program member, is working to expand financial services access in emerging markets. **Key developments:** - Integration of USDC into DeFi protocols and real-world asset models - Focus on enabling cross-border liquidity flows - Structured financial access for underserved regions The initiative connects stablecoin infrastructure with traditional finance needs in developing economies. By bridging USDC with both decentralized finance platforms and tangible assets, Canza aims to provide practical financial tools where traditional banking remains limited. Learn more: [Circle Alliance Program](https://www.circle.com/alliance-program)

**Morph Network is integrating USDC and Circle's Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol (CCTP)**, bringing regulated stablecoin infrastructure to its payment-focused blockchain. **Key features:** - USDC for payments, foreign exchange, and treasury operations - CCTP enables seamless USDC transfers across supported blockchains - USDC as settlement and collateral asset in DeFi applications **Morph has also launched a $150M Payment Accelerator** to support teams building crypto cards, cross-border remittances, and payment gateways on the network. This integration positions Morph as a payment-oriented blockchain with access to Circle's regulated stablecoin infrastructure. [Read full details](http://www.circle.com/blog/usdc-cctp-are-coming-to-morph-what-you-need-to-know)

Circle released its FY2025 financial results, showing significant growth across key metrics: **Financial Performance** - Total revenue and reserve income: **$770M** (+77% YoY) - USDC circulation: **$75.3B** (+72% YoY) - Q4 onchain transaction volume: **$12T** - Full year onchain volume: **$11.9T** (+247% YoY) CEO Jeremy Allaire discussed the results on CNBC, highlighting the company's position in what Circle calls "internet-native finance." The company positions itself as building an "Economic OS for the internet," targeting use cases from cross-border payments to AI-driven financial applications. The results mark continued momentum from Q2 2025, when USDC circulation stood at $61.3B. Circle has been publicly traded since earlier in 2025. Full earnings report available at [investor.circle.com](http://investor.circle.com)

Circle has launched **USDCx on Canton Network** through its new xReserve infrastructure, bringing USDC-backed stablecoins to the privacy-focused blockchain. **Key Features:** - 1:1 backing by USDC held in Circle's xReserve smart contract - Seamless atomic settlement of tokenized assets - Privacy-preserving payment capabilities - Cross-chain interoperability without third-party bridges **What This Means:** Businesses can now access unified USDC liquidity across supported chains while maintaining privacy. The trust-minimized approach reduces bridge risks through Circle's attestation system. Canton joins Stacks as early xReserve partners, expanding Circle's interoperability infrastructure beyond traditional bridging solutions. [Read more details](http://www.circle.com/blog/usdcx-on-canton-now-available-via-circle-xreserve)

Circle officially launched its **Circle Foundation** at Nasdaq Tower, funded through the company's Pledge 1% equity commitment. The foundation focuses on **financial resilience and inclusion** with three key areas: - Strengthening financial systems for US small businesses - Modernizing global humanitarian aid infrastructure - Building durable economic participation infrastructure Circle highlights how **digital dollars** have already improved relief efforts by making aid faster, safer, and more transparent for displaced families and frontline workers. The initiative represents Circle's commitment to scaling financial access globally, supporting both domestic small businesses and international humanitarian efforts through blockchain-based solutions.