Circle Internet Group, an American fintech company that issues the USDC stablecoin, plans to expand its presence into around 40 emerging markets. The company is banking on growing demand for digital payments and dollar-pegged stablecoins.
Circle’s Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Jeremy Allaire, told Reuters on 16 October 2026 that the priority regions for international expansion would be South-East Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East.
According to Allaire, the blockchain industry is moving from the initial development of technologies to their widespread commercial application. The main demand comes from cross-border payments, international trade, business-to-business settlements and financial services for consumers.
To strengthen its position in new markets, Circle had previously agreed to acquire the Singapore-based payment company Tazapay for approximately $400 million. The deal was announced on 8 September. It will give Circle access to an international payments infrastructure covering more than 100 markets and over 60 banking and fintech partners.
According to Circle, at current growth rates, Tazapay’s annual payment volume exceeds $25 billion. Around 60 per cent of transactions are already conducted using stablecoins.
The deal is expected to be finalised in 2027, subject to obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals.
Furthermore, on 22 September, Circle announced an expansion of its partnership with the cryptocurrency exchange Binance, which has invested $100 million in the company. The parties have signed a new five-year agreement to expand the reach of USDC, primarily in developing countries.
According to Reuters, by the end of the second quarter of 2026, the volume of USDC in circulation had risen by 19 per cent year-on-year to $73.3 billion.
Circle accounts for around a quarter of the global stablecoin market. Its main competitor, Tether, controls approximately 60 per cent of the market.
The company is also developing its own blockchain infrastructure, Arc. It is designed for corporate settlements, the tokenisation of financial assets and international payments.
Financial organisations involved in the development and use of Arc include BlackRock, Visa and Standard Chartered.
The growth of the stablecoin market is being supported by the gradual development of a regulatory framework. In the US, the GENIUS Act has been passed, regulating the issuance of payment stablecoins. The main provisions of the Act are due to come into force in 2027.
At the same time, competition from traditional banks is intensifying: they are developing their own digital payment instruments and infrastructure for tokenised deposits.
According to market participants, the wider use of stablecoins could significantly transform the international payments system: reducing transaction times and decreasing reliance on traditional correspondent banking networks.
Circle Internet Group is an American publicly listed fintech company founded in 2013. It develops blockchain-based payment infrastructure and issues the digital currencies USDC and EURC. The company’s shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol CRCL.