Circle, the issuer of the USDC and EURC stablecoins, is expanding its regulated stablecoin infrastructure in Europe. It has partnered with ClearBank to do this.
According to an official announcement, Circle’s stablecoin settlement network will link to ClearBank’s cloud-based platform. This connection will give European institutions a compliant way to use stablecoins for payments and liquidity.
Circle is the only major stablecoin issuer operating under the European Union’s MiCA framework. It earned this regulatory license in France in 2024. This allows USDC and EURC to be issued and redeemed in Europe under local oversight.
Integration Details
The first step will be launching Circle Mint across Europe. This service lets institutions exchange fiat currency and stablecoins. ClearBank also plans to join the Circle Payments Network (CPN). This will enable immediate settlement of transactions on public blockchains.
This integration aims to reduce reliance on slower cross-border banking methods. ClearBank recently expanded its European presence after getting approval from the European Central Bank. The bank aims to support faster cross-border settlements within regulatory rules.
Strategic Outlook
Both companies see stablecoins being useful beyond payments. They expect uses in treasury management and tokenized settlement. If successful, other banks under MiCA may adopt this model.
ClearBank CEO Mark Fairless said this partnership modernizes cross-border payments. He said, “Circle is redefining how money moves globally, and this collaboration will bring together our strengths in regulated banking infrastructure with their leadership in digital currency technology.”
Circle’s EMEA Partnerships Lead, Sanja Kon, said the partnership makes USDC and EURC more accessible for European institutions. She added it could enable new financial services based on regulated stablecoins.
