Ant Group to Integrate Circle’s USDC Stablecoin on Proprietary Blockchain

Ant Group’s international arm, backed by Alibaba founder Jack Ma, is set to adopt Circle’s USDC stablecoin on its proprietary blockchain network. The integration will begin once U.S. regulators officially certify USDC under new federal guidelines, according to Bloomberg sources.

This strategic move could significantly boost USDC adoption by linking it to a blockchain that handled over $1 trillion in global payments last year, with one-third of transactions settled on-chain. If completed, Ant could become the largest non-U.S. corporate user of a U.S.-issued stablecoin.

The company is also actively pursuing stablecoin licenses in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Luxembourg. Its broader goal is to create a unified digital finance ecosystem where regulated stablecoins, central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and tokenized bank deposits can coexist.

Ant’s blockchain already supports tokenized assets issued by financial institutions and has previously collaborated with the People’s Bank of China on the development of the digital yuan. The potential onboarding of USDC could enhance cross-border transaction efficiency and regulatory compliance, reinforcing Ant's positioning in the global Web3 payment landscape.

Circle, the issuer of USDC, saw its shares rise 3.8% in pre-market trading to $208 following the news. This development reflects growing momentum for regulated digital currencies amid rising institutional interest and evolving global stablecoin regulations.

The partnership underscores the increasing convergence of traditional finance and blockchain technology, with major players like Ant Group leading the integration of regulated stablecoins into enterprise-scale payment infrastructure. As regulatory clarity improves, the adoption of dollar-backed stablecoins such as USDC is expected to accelerate across international markets.