Circle Acquires Interop Labs to Supercharge USDC’s Cross-Chain Ambitions
Circle, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, has acquired Interop Labs—a core contributor to the Axelar Network—to accelerate development of its Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol (CCTP) and Arc platform. The deal, excluding the Axelar Foundation's native AXL token, will bring proprietary intellectual property and engineering talent in-house by early 2026.
This strategic MOVE underscores Circle's ambition to dominate cross-chain liquidity flows. A company spokesperson framed the acquisition as an infrastructure play, stating, 'This is about building rails for compliant asset movement across 100+ chains,' rather than a bet on any single blockchain.
Market observers note the timing aligns with growing institutional demand for interoperable stablecoins. USDC's circulation has increased 22% year-to-date as traditional finance (TradFi) entities increasingly prefer regulated alternatives to algorithmic stablecoins.
