#USDC
29 articles tagged #USDC — curated RWA tokenization coverage.
Bernstein says Circle’s growth cycle can continue without the Clarity Act, sees 59% upside
Bernstein analysts project that Circle can maintain its growth trajectory for USDC even in the absence of the Clarity Act, citing a robust rebound in stablecoin supply and expanding transaction volumes. The firm maintains an optimistic outlook, forecasting a 59% upside potential for the company as it solidifies its market position. This growth is driven by increasing demand for stablecoins as a primary settlement layer for digital assets and cross-border payments. By leveraging its existing infrastructure and regulatory compliance, Circle continues to capture significant market share despite the legislative uncertainty surrounding the Clarity Act. The analysis highlights that the fundamental utility of USDC as a bridge between traditional finance and blockchain ecosystems remains the primary catalyst for its adoption. This development underscores the resilience of stablecoin issuers who are successfully scaling operations through organic market demand rather than relying solely on specific regulatory tailwinds. For the broader RWA market, this suggests that stablecoin liquidity will remain a critical foundation for the tokenization of real-world assets.
Mintmark Brief: Stablecoins & Tokenization, Week Ending August 7, 2026
Wells Fargo has announced plans to launch tokenized deposits this fall, marking the fourth major U.S. commercial bank to commit to on-chain settlement infrastructure. Simultaneously, Circle has revealed that eleven major institutions, including DTCC, ICE, Mastercard, and Visa, will serve as validators for its upcoming Arc blockchain, scheduled for a September 16 launch. These developments signal a shift where traditional financial plumbing is actively securing new on-chain rails. Regulatory progress continues as Augustus National Bank became the first digital-asset de novo applicant to secure both OCC and FDIC approval for a full deposit-taking and lending model. Meanwhile, the GENIUS Act is forcing asset managers like BlackRock to pivot, leading to the launch of tokenized money market funds designed specifically as stablecoin reserve assets. Circle reported Q2 revenue of $701 million, reflecting a 7% year-over-year growth despite a 66 basis point decline in reserve return rates. The industry now awaits the finalization of GENIUS rule-writing, which will determine whether issuers face a unified regulatory framework or a fragmented landscape of conflicting mandates.
Circle Calls for MiCA Changes to Widen Stablecoin Access
Circle is advocating for a formal review of the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation to address the limited availability of global stablecoins within the bloc. While MiCA has successfully attracted 35 approved e-money tokens from 21 issuers, only a small fraction of the top 50 global stablecoins, including Circle's USDC and EURC, currently meet the stringent compliance requirements. Patrick Hansen, Circle’s senior director of EU strategy, argues that the current framework forces EU exchanges to delist major non-compliant tokens, thereby restricting user access and market liquidity. Circle proposes a recognition system that would allow stablecoins regulated in trusted non-EU jurisdictions to operate within Europe if they provide comparable safeguards. This shift is intended to prevent European users from being pushed toward unregulated products while fostering a more competitive environment for EU-authorized issuers globally. European authorities, including the European Central Bank, remain cautious, citing concerns over potential risks to reserve pools from multi-jurisdictional issuance models. As the RWA market matures, this debate highlights the tension between maintaining strict consumer protections and ensuring the interoperability of global digital assets. The outcome of this review will significantly influence how institutional capital interacts with tokenized liquidity in the European market.
Circle CEO: Crypto Market Shifting From Speculation to Tokenized Asset Trading
Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire reports a fundamental market shift as the cryptocurrency ecosystem transitions from pure speculation toward the trading of tokenized real-world assets. During the company's second-quarter earnings call, Circle disclosed $701 million in revenue and $143 million in adjusted EBITDA, highlighting its financial capacity to support on-chain infrastructure for equities and commodities. This evolution is bolstered by increasing institutional participation from firms like BlackRock and Fidelity, alongside data from a 2025 Bank for International Settlements report indicating that over 90% of central banks are actively researching tokenized assets. By leveraging USDC as a bridge between traditional finance and blockchain, Circle aims to modernize legacy settlement systems and improve market liquidity. Despite this momentum, the lack of finalized SEC regulations for tokenized securities in the United States remains a significant barrier to widespread adoption. The transition signifies a move toward a more mature financial ecosystem where interoperable platforms facilitate 24/7 trading and fractional ownership. Ultimately, Circle is positioning its technology stack to serve as the foundational layer for this global shift in asset management and transaction settlement.
Dinari Opens 724 Tokenized Stocks to US Investors, Allowing S&P 500 Trading in USDC
Dinari has officially expanded its tokenized equities platform to the United States, offering 724 tokenized stocks including all S&P 500 constituents. Operating as a registered broker-dealer and transfer agent, the platform allows eligible US investors to trade dShares directly from self-custody wallets using USDC. These tokens are backed one-for-one by underlying assets held by a regulated custodian, ensuring investors retain dividends, voting rights, and corporate action benefits. The service currently supports Ethereum, Arbitrum, Base, and Avalanche, with plans to integrate Solana and Sei in the near future. This expansion marks a significant shift in the RWA landscape, as most competing tokenized stock services have historically been restricted to offshore structures. By bridging traditional equity markets with blockchain infrastructure, Dinari aims to capture a portion of the projected $5.5 trillion tokenized securities market by 2030. The move highlights increasing institutional and regulatory efforts to bring compliant, on-chain stock trading to domestic retail investors.
Exclusive: Dinari, founded by Stripe and Apple alums, partners with Circle to offer tokenized stocks to U.S. investors
San Mateo-based startup Dinari has announced the expansion of its tokenized stock platform to U.S. investors, enabling the purchase of S&P 500 equities via blockchain. By partnering with Circle, the platform allows users to fund accounts instantly using USDC to acquire dShares, which represent ownership in underlying securities held in regulated custody. This model aims to bypass traditional brokerage limitations by offering instant settlement and self-custody, effectively bridging the $300 billion stablecoin market with the $60 trillion U.S. equities sector. Dinari’s system preserves shareholder rights, including voting and dividend distributions, while facilitating greater portfolio mobility across platforms. The company distinguishes itself from competitors like Securitize and Figure by focusing on broad access to public stocks rather than niche or private assets. With the tokenized stock market growing approximately 600% to $1.7 billion by June, this move signals a significant shift toward decentralized financial infrastructure. Dinari is already operational in 85 jurisdictions, supporting over 6,000 active tokens as it seeks to modernize opaque capital market systems.
Solana’s Ecosystem Thrives: Tokenized AI Stocks and USDC Surge
The Solana ecosystem is experiencing a significant surge in activity driven by the rapid adoption of tokenized AI stocks and increased stablecoin liquidity. Trading volumes for the tokenized asset $BOT have notably surpassed traditional Nasdaq benchmarks, signaling a shift in investor preference toward blockchain-based equity representations. Simultaneously, Circle has minted over $10.25 billion in USDC on the Solana network within a single month, with daily minting peaks reaching $750 million. This influx of stablecoin capital underscores the network's growing utility as a primary infrastructure for high-frequency financial transactions. The integration of AI-focused tokenized assets alongside robust stablecoin volume positions Solana as a competitive venue for institutional and retail market participants. These developments highlight a broader trend where high-performance blockchains are increasingly capturing market share from legacy financial exchanges. As institutional trust in Solana's infrastructure grows, the network is solidifying its role as a critical hub for the tokenization of real-world financial instruments.
Circle acquires IBM blockchain patent portfolio to expand onchain infrastructure
Circle has acquired a significant blockchain patent portfolio from IBM, securing over 680 patent families and nearly 1,000 issued patents. This strategic move establishes Circle as the largest holder of blockchain patents in the United States, bolstering its intellectual property foundation. The acquired assets cover critical areas including banking, financial services, enterprise infrastructure, supply chain verification, and secure cloud operations. By integrating these technologies, Circle aims to accelerate the development of its USDC stablecoin, the Circle Payments Network, and its Arc enterprise blockchain suite. This acquisition signals a broader shift for the company as it moves beyond simple stablecoin issuance to become a comprehensive provider of onchain financial infrastructure. The partnership also opens doors for future commercial collaborations between Circle and IBM, leveraging the latter's decade of enterprise blockchain research. Ultimately, this consolidation of intellectual property is designed to support the global adoption of internet-native financial services and AI-powered financial tools.
Clarity Act’s impact on Circle could be negative over the long term, Mizuho says
The proposed Clarity Act has advanced in the U.S. legislative process following the release of updated text by Republican lawmakers. Analysts at Mizuho Securities suggest that while the bill aims to provide a regulatory framework for stablecoins, its long-term implications for issuers like Circle could be negative. The legislation seeks to establish federal oversight for payment stablecoin issuers, potentially imposing stricter compliance requirements than those currently faced under state-level regimes. For the broader RWA market, this development highlights the ongoing tension between fostering innovation and implementing rigorous federal supervision. If enacted, the bill would significantly alter the operational landscape for stablecoin providers, who serve as the primary liquidity rails for tokenized assets. The potential for increased capital requirements and restricted asset backing could impact the growth trajectory of the sector. This legislative movement underscores the critical role of regulatory clarity in shaping the future of institutional participation in blockchain-based financial products.
Bybit Emerges as Surprise Winner After $1.8B USDC Flees Binance Post-MiCA
Binance experienced $1.8 billion in net USDC outflows during Q2 2026, including $1.4 billion in June, following its failure to secure a MiCA license. This 19% decline in Binance's tracked USDC balance occurred alongside a 5.5% contraction in total USDC supply, representing approximately $4.3 billion in net redemptions from the broader ecosystem. Contrary to expectations that OKX would capture these flows, Bybit emerged as the primary beneficiary, increasing its USDC reserves by 45% from $450 million to $660 million. This growth was driven specifically by demand for USDC-margined perpetual contracts and options rather than spot trading. The shift highlights that regulatory uncertainty regarding MiCA compliance is prompting traders to migrate to platforms offering specific derivatives infrastructure. Despite these outflows, Binance maintains a dominant position, controlling 62% of combined stablecoin balances and 80% of CEX-hosted USDC. This trend underscores that stablecoin distribution is increasingly dictated by product-specific utility and jurisdictional risk management rather than simple market share migration.
Dutch Regulator Authorizes BitPay Under MiCA Rules
BitPay has officially secured authorization from the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets to operate as a crypto-asset service provider under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation. This milestone allows the company to leverage passporting rights to offer payment processing and consumer crypto services across all 27 EU member states from a single regulatory base. By replacing previous national anti-money laundering registrations with this harmonized framework, BitPay significantly reduces compliance fragmentation for its cross-border operations. The authorization specifically supports the company's strategic initiative to expand stablecoin payment services, with USDC currently serving as its primary offering. As stablecoin transactions represent a growing share of BitPay's total volume, this regulatory clarity provides a stable foundation for institutional and consumer adoption. The move highlights the Netherlands' growing role as a preferred jurisdiction for crypto firms seeking to align with unified European standards. This development is critical for the RWA market as it establishes a compliant, standardized infrastructure for the movement of tokenized value and stablecoins across the entire European bloc.
USDC emerges as the go-to stablecoin powering tokenized equities’ billion-dollar moment
Ondo Global Markets has achieved a significant milestone by surpassing $1 billion in total value locked for tokenized equities by May 2026, just eight months after its launch. This growth reflects a broader expansion in the tokenized equity sector, which grew from $424 million in mid-2025 to approximately $960 million by March 2026. Ondo currently commands a 60% market share, with its CRCLon product alone exceeding $100 million in TVL. Circle’s USDC has emerged as the preferred settlement layer for these institutional-grade products, favored for its compliance-first reputation and regular attestation reports. Meanwhile, Circle’s USYC money market fund has surpassed $2 billion in assets under management, further cementing the firm's role in the RWA ecosystem. While the tokenized equity market remains small compared to traditional exchanges like the NYSE, the rapid 30% quarterly growth in the broader RWA sector signals increasing institutional adoption. Future market trajectory will depend heavily on evolving US regulatory clarity and the commitment of institutional liquidity providers to onchain financial instruments.
EU Launches MiCA Stablecoin Rewrite After Reserve Rules Handed Circle Monopoly
The European Union is initiating revisions to its Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation following unintended consequences that have effectively granted Circle a monopoly on authorized dollar-denominated stablecoins for European retail investors. MiCA's requirement that stablecoin reserves be held in EU bank deposits proved incompatible with Tether's business model, which relies heavily on US Treasury bills, leading to the widespread delisting of USDT across licensed European platforms. This regulatory shift culminated on July 6, 2026, when Revolut halted USDT purchases, marking the final stage of a cascade that removed the world's largest stablecoin from major EU exchanges. While intended to protect European financial sovereignty, the framework has inadvertently incentivized the use of a US-regulated stablecoin, USDC, which supports US Treasury demand—a dynamic the European Central Bank previously identified as a threat to EU monetary policy. Furthermore, the transition to MiCA saw only 280 of 1,200 firms successfully secure authorization, representing a significant consolidation of the European crypto market. As the RWA sector grows, with tokenized assets reaching $26 billion, regulators are now forced to address the jurisdictional and structural gaps exposed by the rapid enforcement of these rules. The ongoing review reflects a broader struggle to balance strict financial oversight with the realities of a globalized, fast-moving digital asset ecosystem.
SBI, Daiwa Securities plant settlement platform for tokenized issuance
SBI Securities and Daiwa Securities are developing a cross-border settlement platform to facilitate foreign investment in Japanese security tokens, targeting Singapore as the initial market. The initiative aims to expand beyond current real estate and corporate bond offerings to include tokenized assets in the anime and sake sectors. By utilizing the USDC stablecoin for settlement, the firms intend to streamline international access to Japanese digital securities, with a potential future integration of a yen-backed stablecoin. The project has secured approval from the Japan Securities Dealers Association and is slated for a launch no earlier than 2027. The platform will leverage the BOOSTRY blockchain infrastructure rather than the competing Progmat platform. This strategic move highlights the growing institutional focus on bridging fragmented domestic tokenization markets with global liquidity pools. Success in Singapore could serve as a blueprint for broader international expansion, potentially enabling reciprocal investment opportunities for Japanese clients in foreign markets.
Revolut to End USDT Support in Europe as MiCA Rules Reshape Stablecoin Market
European fintech giant Revolut is discontinuing support for USDT in the region, mandating that users sell or withdraw holdings by August 31, 2026. This decision follows the full implementation of the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework, which took effect on July 1, 2026. Tether, the issuer of USDT, opted not to seek MiCA authorization, citing incompatibility between the regulation's reserve requirements and its own management strategy. Consequently, Revolut joins other major platforms like Coinbase, Kraken, and Binance in restricting USDT to comply with the new legal standards. While USDT availability on regulated exchanges is declining, Circle has successfully secured MiCA approval for its USDC and EURC stablecoins. This shift forces a significant liquidity migration within the European market toward compliant assets. Tether continues to maintain a presence in the region by providing its Hadron tokenization platform to support third-party MiCA-compliant stablecoin projects.
JPMorgan Warns Yield-Bearing Stablecoins Could Create 'Shadow Banking' Risks As CLARITY Act Heads To Senate Floor
JPMorgan executives Umar Farooq and Peter Muriungi have issued a formal warning regarding the potential for yield-bearing stablecoins to introduce systemic shadow banking risks into the financial ecosystem. As the U.S. Senate prepares to consider the Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act in July, the bank argues that regulatory clarity must be accompanied by rigorous capital, liquidity, and consumer-protection standards equivalent to those governing traditional banks. The executives contend that stablecoins offering yield rewards without these safeguards could trigger bank-like runs, undermining financial stability. This intervention highlights a significant tension between traditional banking institutions and the crypto industry, specifically regarding the competitive landscape for deposit-like products. JPMorgan points to its own Kinexys blockchain and JPM Coin as examples of how innovation can scale within existing regulatory guardrails. While Senate leaders like Tim Scott push for bipartisan legislation to secure American leadership in digital assets, the debate remains contentious due to concerns over illicit finance and unequal regulatory burdens. The outcome of this legislative push will likely dictate the future operational requirements for major stablecoin issuers like Circle, whose USDC remains a central focus of the ongoing policy debate.
USDC's Massive Surge: The Real Story of How Stablecoins Are Tokenizing the Future of Capital Markets
USDC transaction volume reached $21.5 trillion in Q1 2026, marking a 263% year-over-year increase as institutions adopt the stablecoin as core settlement infrastructure. With circulation near $73 billion, Circle has outpaced competitors for two consecutive years, supported by a 77% revenue jump and strategic partnerships with entities like Visa and the government of Bermuda. The asset is backed by a BlackRock-managed fund of cash and short-dated Treasuries, positioning it as the primary cash leg for the broader tokenized asset market. This growth coincides with a record $15.35 billion in tokenized US Treasuries, a sector Citi projects will reach $5.5 trillion by 2030. Regulatory tailwinds, including MiCA compliance in Europe and the GENIUS Act in the US, have further solidified USDC's institutional dominance. However, competition is intensifying, evidenced by the June 30 announcement of the Open USD consortium, which includes major players like Mastercard and BlackRock. This rivalry underscores the strategic importance of controlling the cash layer in the evolving landscape of tokenized capital markets.
Here’s what happened in crypto today
Securitize has officially debuted on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker SECZ following a merger with a Cantor Fitzgerald-backed SPAC. The company, which counts BlackRock and Morgan Stanley as backers, simultaneously launched tokenized versions of its shares on the Avalanche and Solana blockchains. This milestone represents the first instance of a newly public company offering tokenized equity to eligible US investors. Simultaneously, Standard Chartered has partnered with Circle to enable institutional clients to mint and redeem USDC directly through the bank's platform. As the first Global Systemically Important Bank to offer this service, Standard Chartered is integrating stablecoin access into traditional risk and compliance frameworks. These developments signal a significant maturation of the RWA market, as institutional-grade infrastructure increasingly bridges the gap between legacy financial systems and blockchain-based assets. By embedding these capabilities, both Securitize and Standard Chartered are addressing the industry's demand for deeper liquidity, extended trading hours, and seamless onchain settlement.