Ant Group plans to include Circle’s USDC on its blockchain once it receives U.S. regulatory approval.
- Circle’s USDC will join Ant Group’s global payment network.
- Ant International seeks stablecoin licenses in Asia and Europe.
- The platform already handles over $1 trillion in payments yearly.
Ant Group Expands Into USDC Integration
Ant Group, a company backed by Alibaba founder Jack Ma, will integrate the USDC stablecoin from Circle into its blockchain. The move will happen after U.S. regulators certify USDC under new federal rules. This expansion connects USDC to a large global network used for digital payments.
USDC Could Reach Massive Global Usage
Ant Group’s network processed over $1 trillion in payments last year, and around one-third of those were settled on-chain. By using USDC, Ant could become the largest non-U.S. business using an American-issued stablecoin. This could increase the stablecoin’s visibility and usage worldwide.
Ant International Seeks Global Crypto Approvals
Ant International is also applying for stablecoin licenses in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Luxembourg. The goal is to offer a platform where users can access regulated digital dollars, government-issued digital currencies (CBDCs), and tokenized bank deposits together.
Previous Work With China’s Digital Currency
The company’s blockchain already supports tokenized assets from banks and financial groups. Ant has also been involved in China’s digital yuan project, working with the People’s Bank of China since 2017. This shows Ant’s long-term interest in blockchain-based finance solutions.
Impact on Circle and USDC
Following news of the deal, Circle’s stock price went up nearly 3.8% in pre-market trading to $208. This rise reflects growing investor confidence in USDC’s global expansion. Being linked to a major fintech platform like Ant Group could boost its usage outside of the U.S.
Source: coindesk.com
