Circle, the fintech company best known for issuing the USDC stablecoin, has just announced the launch of the Circle Payments Network (CPN) – a real-time, stablecoin-based payments network designed specifically for financial institutions. It’s a major step forward in Circle’s mission to make global money movement as simple as sending an email.
The vision: global, programmable, trusted payments
Despite recent advancements, cross-border payments remain slow, expensive, and complicated. According to the World Bank, sending money internationally still costs more than 6% on average and often takes over one business day to settle. This especially affects emerging markets, limiting their access to global financial infrastructure.
Circle Payments Network was built to solve these challenges by offering:
- 24/7 real-time settlement
- Stablecoin-based transfers using USDC, EURC, and other regulated tokens
- A compliance-first framework, with strict standards for AML, licensing, cybersecurity, and risk management
The network is designed for:
- Traditional and neo-banks
- Payment service providers (PSPs)
- Digital wallets and fintech platforms
- Virtual asset service providers (VASPs)
What can you do with CPN?
Circle envisions CPN powering a wide range of real-world use cases:
- B2B supplier payments
- Payroll and remittances
- Capital markets settlements
- Internal treasury operations
- Onchain financial applications
- Automated financial workflows via APIs and smart contracts
With modular APIs and smart contract infrastructure, CPN is not just a payments network – it’s a programmable foundation for building the next generation of financial products.
High-trust partnerships with global banks
Circle isn’t doing this alone. Industry giants like:
- Deutsche Bank
- Banco Santander
- Société Générale
- Standard Chartered Bank
…are all working with Circle to ensure that CPN meets the high expectations and compliance needs of leading financial institutions around the world.
As Michael Spiegel from Standard Chartered put it:
“Circle’s compliance-first approach is a game changer for how money moves across borders.”
A growing ecosystem of global players
Circle has also brought on board a wide range of global partners and fintech platforms, including: Alfred Pay, BCB Group, Flutterwave, dLocal, Nuvei, CoinMENA, Coins.ph, OpenPayd, Triple-A, Yellow Card, and many more.
Infrastructure providers like Fireblocks are also connecting their institutional clients to CPN, expanding the network’s reach and impact.
According to Nikhil Chandhok, Chief Product & Technology Officer at Circle:
“Circle Payments Network is a foundational layer for the always-on economy — enabling trusted institutions to move value across borders, instantly.”
Launching soon
CPN will become available in limited capacity starting May 2025. Licensed financial institutions can request access or learn more at: https://www.circle.com/cpn
Final thoughts
Circle Payments Network may become a major catalyst for mainstream adoption of stablecoins in traditional finance. By merging the trust and compliance of legacy institutions with the speed and flexibility of blockchain infrastructure, Circle is making a bold bet on the future of cross-border payments.
It’s not just about transferring money faster — it’s about building a more connected, programmable, and open financial system.
