Circle, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, is preparing to enter roughly 40 emerging and developing markets as demand for digital dollars grows outside traditional cryptocurrency trading. Chief Executive Officer and Chairman Jeremy Allaire shared the strategy on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings in Bangkok.

Allaire pointed to increasing interest from businesses and individuals in Southeast Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East who seek access to internet-based economic activity. He described the current period as a shift from the early adopter stage of blockchain technology into a mainstream scaling phase.

Market Position and Growth Metrics

USDC accounts for about 25 percent of the overall stablecoin market, compared with roughly 60 percent for Tether’s USDT. Circulation of USDC rose 19 percent year over year to $73.3 billion in the second quarter. On-chain transaction volume for USDC reached $14.8 trillion in that same period, a 151 percent increase from the prior year.

Analysts at Bernstein have noted that USDC’s share of adjusted stablecoin transaction volume climbed from approximately 40 percent in 2025 to more than 60 percent so far in 2026, placing it ahead of USDT on that measure. The firm has projected a new growth cycle for USDC driven by recovering crypto markets, clearer U.S. regulation, expansion of tokenized capital markets, and broader payments use.

Strategic Moves Supporting Expansion

Circle’s push is supported by recent corporate activity. The company agreed in September to acquire Singapore-based cross-border payments firm Tazapay in an all-stock transaction valued at $400 million, with completion expected in 2027. It also received a $100 million strategic investment from Binance.

Regulatory progress has strengthened the company’s position. Circle secured a federal banking charter in July and is pursuing a New York trust charter. The GENIUS Act, U.S. legislation governing stablecoins, is scheduled to take effect in January.

Allaire characterized competition from banks developing their own stablecoins as positive. He noted that after a long period in which traditional institutions limited outside participation, innovators now have greater opportunity.

AI Integration and Security Considerations

Circle has developed tools allowing artificial intelligence agents to manage and spend USDC. Its Arc network has been adopted by institutions including BlackRock, Visa, and Standard Chartered. Allaire credited AI-driven microtransactions with contributing to higher USDC usage and said the company aims to position the stablecoin as a preferred settlement asset for such agents.

At the same time, he cautioned that artificial intelligence introduces new security risks to financial infrastructure.

USDC is already available for corporate payments through established corridors in the United States, Brazil, Mexico, the European Economic Area, Singapore, and Hong Kong. The planned expansion seeks to extend those payment and settlement capabilities into additional markets where conventional banking options can be costly or limited.

Allaire did not identify the specific countries targeted or provide a detailed timeline for entry. The strategy centers on practical use cases such as cross-border invoices, business settlements, and consumer payments rather than relying solely on cryptocurrency exchange activity.