Circle Plans Expansion Into About 40 Emerging Markets

Circle plans to expand into about 40 emerging and developing markets, Chief Executive and Chairman Jeremy Allaire said, as the stablecoin issuer sees demand growing across several regions. Allaire described Southeast Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America as areas of interest for the expansion. He discussed the plan on October 16 in Bangkok, alongside meetings involving the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. Allaire said blockchain use was moving beyond early adoption toward broader-scale deployment, with individuals and businesses seeking ways to participate in an internet-based economy. The approximate market count reflects his remarks; a reviewed account also referred to about 50 markets in one passage, while its headline gave 40. Circle reported that $73.3 billion of its USDC stablecoin was in circulation at the end of the second quarter, June 30, 2026, a 19% increase from a year earlier. The figure is company-reported. USDC is one of several dollar-linked stablecoins used in digital transactions. Circle also said its Circle Payments Network had 175 enrolled financial institutions. A reported $14.7 billion annualized transaction pace for the network was...