Circle Plans Expansion into 40 Emerging Markets Amid Growing Stablecoin Demand
Circle, the issuer behind stablecoins, aims to enter approximately 40 emerging markets, according to the company’s CEO and chairman, Jeremy Allaire.
Allaire described the current period as a turning point, marking a shift from the early adoption phase of blockchain technology to its mainstream scaling phase, remarks he shared with Reuters during the IMF and World Bank meetings in Bangkok.
He pointed out rising demand for stablecoins across markets in Southeast Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East, driven by businesses and individuals eager to participate in the internet economy.
On August 24, Cointelegraph reported that Bernstein analysts expressed optimism about Circle (ticker CRCL), predicting that a new growth cycle for the USDC stablecoin could significantly support the company over the next year.
Bernstein highlighted factors likely to fuel the next wave of stablecoin growth, including renewed momentum in crypto markets, clearer regulatory frameworks in the US, tokenization of capital markets, and increasing usage of stablecoins for payments. They also noted initial indications of stablecoins being used in AI agent-based payments.
While USDC remains the second-largest dollar-backed stablecoin by market capitalization, trailing behind Tether’s USDT, it has notably increased its transaction volume. Bernstein data shows USDC’s share of adjusted stablecoin transaction volume rose from about 40% in 2025 to over 60% in 2026, surpassing USDT in this metric.
According to CoinMarketCap, USDC's market capitalization stood at roughly $72.5 billion at the end of Friday, compared to USDT's approximately $183.4 billion. Shares of CRCL traded on the NYSE closed down 5.5% at $82.22, extending a nearly 24% decline over the last six months.
On September 8, Cointelegraph reported that Circle reached an agreement to acquire Singapore-based cross-border payments platform Tazapay in a $400 million all-stock transaction, expected to close by 2027.
Circle’s intention to expand into numerous developing markets underscores the growing role of stablecoins in global financial inclusion and digital commerce, signaling a major step in the mainstream adoption of blockchain technology.
Why it matters
Circle’s push into emerging markets and the supportive analyst outlook highlight how stablecoins like USDC are gaining traction, potentially reshaping digital payments and financial access worldwide.
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