Ant Group Partners with Circle to Expand USDC Adoption on Blockchain Platform

Ant Group, the fintech giant backed by Jack Ma, is increasing its involvement in cryptocurrency through a partnership with Circle to integrate USDC onto its blockchain platform. This strategic move highlights the Chinese company's focus on regulated digital assets and cross-border payments.

The integration will proceed once USDC meets U.S. compliance requirements, though a specific timeline has not been disclosed. The market responded positively, with Circle's shares rising 3.8% in pre-market trading following the announcement.

For Circle, this collaboration marks another major step in its global expansion. The company recently announced a similar integration with OKX, one of the world's largest exchanges, further broadening USDC's accessibility across multiple blockchains.

Circle's push into regulated markets has gained momentum after the U.S. Senate passed the GENIUS Act, a landmark bill focused on stablecoin regulation. The company is also developing a global payments network to facilitate cross-border transactions using USDC.

With ANT Group's participation, Circle is well-positioned to strengthen its presence in Asia's rapidly growing digital asset ecosystem.