BREAKING: Jack Ma’s Ant Group Joins Forces With Circle to Launch USDC Integration—Game Changer for Crypto Adoption?

Ant Group just made its biggest crypto move yet—partnering with Circle to bring USDC to its massive fintech ecosystem. Here’s why Wall Street’s sweating.

The Stablecoin Play

Alibaba’s financial arm—backed by Jack Ma—is diving headfirst into dollar-pegged digital assets. No more hiding behind China’s crypto skepticism.

Why This Burns TradFi

While banks fight for SWIFT upgrades, Ant’s cutting the line with instant USDC settlements. Another case of ‘move fast and break things’—unless regulators break you first.

The Bottom Line

Another domino falls in crypto’s march toward mainstream finance. Just don’t expect the suits to admit they’re playing catch-up… again.

Ant-Circle Deal Aligns With Growing Stablecoin Regulation Momentum

This collaboration comes at a time when stablecoins are gaining greater institutional traction. In June, the US Senate passed the GENIUS Act, the first major legislation aimed at regulating dollar-pegged digital tokens.

Circle, one of the few public firms that issues its own stablecoin, has been a key beneficiary of the regulatory clarity. The company also announced plans to roll out a global payments network for banks and financial institutions to use USDC in cross-border settlements.

For Ant, the partnership marks a step toward bringing more regulated tokens onto its blockchain infrastructure. The company is also looking to support other digital currencies, including central bank digital currencies and tokenized bank deposits. These technologies now underpin a growing share of Ant’s global treasury and cross-border services.

After IPO Setback, Ant Rebuilds With $1 Trillion in Blockchain Transactions

Ant reportedly processed over $1t in global transactions last year, with roughly one-third handled on its blockchain. The company is also preparing to apply for stablecoin-related licenses in Hong Kong, Singapore and Luxembourg as it aligns its operations with emerging regulatory regimes.

The broader push comes after a prolonged regulatory crackdown. That pressure forced Ant to overhaul its business following the suspension of its record-breaking IPO in 2020. Since then, the company has turned its focus toward new growth opportunities beyond mainland China.

Its international unit, which brought in nearly $3b in revenue in 2024, is now being positioned for a spinoff and eventual public listing. Bloomberg Intelligence estimates the IPO could value the unit at between $8b and $24b.

As regulators tighten their grip on stablecoins, Ant’s push to adopt USDC looks like a smart play to get ahead. With about $250b already in circulation, there’s a growing need for trusted names and smooth cross-border systems, and Ant seems keen to be one of them.