Circle plans expansion into about 40 emerging markets as USDC payment demand grows, CEO says
CEO Jeremy Allaire told Reuters that Circle wants USDC accepted in roughly 40 emerging and developing markets across Southeast Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East.
Why it matters
The expansion pushes USDC into channels where it would compete with banks and payment companies for cross-border and remittance business, and it depends on distribution and payout infrastructure such as Tazapay and the Circle Payments Network, which Crypto.News said had 175 enrolled financial institutions and $14.7 billion in annualized volume at the end of June. The revenue disclosure came in the same window, with Unchained reporting that Circle's post did not break out how much of the $819 million went to partners rather than transaction costs.
Where the sources disagree
Number of markets Circle plans to enter
about 50 emerging and developing markets
CoinDesk
approximately 40 emerging and developing markets
Crypto.News, Decrypt, Cointelegraph, NewsBTC
CoinDesk reported about 50 emerging and developing markets while Crypto.News, Decrypt, Cointelegraph and NewsBTC reported approximately 40.
Figures that do not reconcile
Found by comparing the numbers in the reports automatically. They are differences, not yet confirmed to be about the same thing.
size of the holdings (holds)
60 percent
CoinDesk
25%
Decrypt
CoinDesk reports 60 percent, Decrypt reports 25% (58% apart).
reported value
$819 million
Blockchain.News
$400 million
Decrypt
Blockchain.News reports $819 million, Decrypt reports $400 million (51% apart).
reported results (revenue)
77%
Blockchain.News
59%
Crypto News (CryptoNews.net)
Blockchain.News reports 77%, Crypto News (CryptoNews.net) reports 59% (23% apart).
reported market figure (stablecoin transaction)
60%
Blockchain.News
77%
CryptoSlate
Blockchain.News reports 60%, CryptoSlate reports 77% (22% apart).
reported cost (costs partners transaction)
$819 million
Unchained
$473 million
Crypto News (CryptoNews.net)
Unchained reports $819 million, Crypto News (CryptoNews.net) reports $473 million (42% apart).
reported cost (costs partners transaction)
$819 million
Unchained
$473 million
CryptoSlate
Unchained reports $819 million, CryptoSlate reports $473 million (42% apart).
reported results (circle revenue)
59%
Crypto News (CryptoNews.net)
93%
CryptoSlate
Crypto News (CryptoNews.net) reports 59%, CryptoSlate reports 93% (37% apart).
reported results (revenue stablecoin)
77%
Blockchain.News
93%
CryptoSlate
Blockchain.News reports 77%, CryptoSlate reports 93% (17% apart).
Key facts
Circle plans to expand into approximately 40 emerging and developing markets.
40Disputed figureReported by Crypto.News
Allaire said demand is rising across Southeast Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East.
Reported by Crypto.News
What happened
Circle is preparing to enter roughly 40 emerging and developing markets, CEO Jeremy Allaire told Reuters on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank meetings in Bangkok on October 16. He said businesses and individuals in Southeast Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East are turning to stablecoins for payments and other financial services, and described blockchain as moving from the early adopter phase into what he called the mainstream scaling phase. CoinDesk ran the plan as about 50 emerging and developing markets while Crypto.News, Decrypt, Cointelegraph and NewsBTC all reported approximately 40. Allaire did not name the countries or give licensing status or opening dates, and Crypto.News noted Circle has published no country list. Resources Circle cites for the push include the pending $400 million acquisition of payments firm Tazapay, whose payout rails would span more than 100 markets if it closes in 2027, and a $100 million strategic investment from Binance. USDC circulation was put at $73.3 billion in CoinDesk and Decrypt, a quarter of the stablecoin market against roughly 60 percent for Tether's USDT, while Crypto.News cited $72.7 billion on Circle's October 12 reserve page. Separately, Circle said on October 16 that it generated about $1.4 billion in first-half 2026 revenue, paid $819 million to distribution partners and transaction costs, reinvested about $473 million and kept seven cents of net profit from each revenue dollar.
How the story developed
- Official statement
Circle discloses first-half 2026 revenue and partner payouts in an Oct. 16 blog post by Kash Razzaghi
Circle said about $1.4 billion in revenue, $819 million to distribution partners and transaction costs, and $473 million reinvested, framed as a response to new entrants.
- First report
First report by CoinDesk
Circle targets 40 new markets as stablecoin demand grows globally
- Update
Allaire tells Reuters Circle is preparing to enter about 40 emerging and developing markets
Speaking on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank meetings in Bangkok, Allaire said stablecoin demand is rising across Southeast Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East.
- Independent corroboration
Independently corroborated by Crypto.News
Circle wants to enter 40 more markets. Where can USDC actually be used?
- Update
Crypto.News notes Circle published no country list or opening dates for the plan
The outlet said Allaire did not name the 40 countries, their licensing status or opening dates.
- Update
Cointelegraph and NewsBTC pick up the 40-market plan
Both outlets relayed Allaire's Reuters comments and the regional demand picture.
How coverage built up
Independent sources over time, counted the way the consensus panel counts them: a republication of a wire story does not move the line.
- 16 Oct 2026, 10:54 UTC: CoinDesk — 1 independent source, 1 reports
- 16 Oct 2026, 12:04 UTC: Crypto.News — 2 independent sources, 2 reports
- 16 Oct 2026, 13:54 UTC: Blockchain.News — 3 independent sources, 3 reports
- 16 Oct 2026, 16:43 UTC: Unchained — 4 independent sources, 4 reports
- 16 Oct 2026, 18:55 UTC: Decrypt — 5 independent sources, 5 reports
- 16 Oct 2026, 19:34 UTC: Crypto News (CryptoNews.net) — 6 independent sources, 6 reports
- 16 Oct 2026, 19:50 UTC: CryptoSlate — 7 independent sources, 7 reports
- 17 Oct 2026, 10:00 UTC: Cointelegraph — 8 independent sources, 8 reports
- 17 Oct 2026, 11:13 UTC: NewsBTC — 9 independent sources, 9 reports
Affected entities
Also mentioned: Binance, Solana, Ethereum, BlackRock, Visa, Base, Arbitrum
Original sources
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