Circle targets 40 new markets as stablecoin demand surges globally

Circle wants USDC in a lot more wallets, in a lot more countries. On October 16, 2026, the stablecoin issuer announced plans to enter approximately 40 emerging and developing markets. The target regions are Southeast Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East. CEO Jeremy Allaire framed the push as a turning point for the industry. In his telling, blockchain technology is graduating from early experimentation to mainstream scaling. The pull is coming from individuals and businesses who want access to the internet-based economy. The deals behind the expansion The announcement follows two notable transactions. The first is a $400 million acquisition of Tazapay, a Singapore-based company focused on cross-border payments. The deal is expected to close in 2027, pending approvals. The second transaction is a $100 million strategic investment from Binance. USDC by the numbers Circle reported that USDC circulation hit $73.3 billion in the second quarter of 2026. That marks a 19% increase from the same period a year earlier. Circle holds roughly 25% of the global stablecoin market. Tether’s USDT sits at nearly 60%. The regulatory hand Circle is playing Allaire spoke about the plans at ...