Circle widens distribution

Circle is widening United States Dollar Coin distribution by plugging into existing payment networks in Asia and Latin America instead of rolling out new local-currency coins. (circle.com) On April 8, Thunes said it joined Circle Payments Network Managed Payments, giving its customers stablecoin settlement while they keep using fiat currency workflows they already run today. Thunes said its network reaches more than 140 countries and connects 12 billion mobile wallets, stablecoin wallets and bank accounts. (thunes.com) On April 13, Movantis said it also joined Circle Payments Network to expand real-time cross-border payments across Latin America and other markets. Movantis said it already moves more than $60 billion a year through 80,000 payout locations, 70-plus money transfer operators and partners in more than 130 countries. (morningstar.com) In South Korea, Circle is leaning on exchange relationships. Bithumb, the country’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange, said on April 13 that it signed a memorandum of understanding with Circle to explore digital-asset infrastructure and stablecoin technology on the Bithumb platform. (koreaherald.com) Circle built the network for the old problem in cross-border payments: transfers can still take more than one business day and cost more than 6%, according to the World Bank figure cited in Circle’s April 21, 2025 launch announcement. Circle said the network is meant to let banks, payment companies and wallets settle across borders in real time with regulated stablecoins including United States Dollar Coin and Euro Coin. (circle.com) A stablecoin is a digital token designed to hold a fixed price, usually one dollar. Circle says United States Dollar Coin is redeemable one-for-one for United States dollars and had $78.3 billion in circulation, backed by $78.4 billion in reserves, as of April 9. (circle.com) The newer piece is Managed Payments, which Circle launched on April 8 as a full-stack settlement product for payment service providers, banks, financial technology firms and large companies. Circle said those customers can use regulated digital dollars without holding the tokens directly or building their own blockchain plumbing. (businesswire.com) That approach keeps the pitch close to existing rails: fiat money goes in, stablecoins handle settlement in the middle, and partners keep their local distribution, compliance and payout networks. Thunes said the model reduces the need for pre-funding local accounts, while Circle said the network is built for uses including remittances, supplier payments, payroll and treasury operations. (thunes.com) (circle.com) Circle’s latest moves show where it wants adoption to happen: inside banks, exchanges, wallets and payment companies that already move money at scale. The company is adding more doors into United States Dollar Coin rather than asking each market to start with a brand-new coin. (circle.com)