Circle Snaps Up IBM's Blockchain Patents In Move That Could Reshape Digital Payments
By CU Today Staff —
NEW YORK— Circle Internet Group has acquired IBM's blockchain patent portfolio, a deal that gives the USDC stablecoin issuer control of more than 680 patent families encompassing nearly 1,000 issued patents and makes it the largest holder of blockchain patents in the United States, the company reported.
Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Circle said the patents span banking, payments, digital identity, tokenization, smart contracts, enterprise infrastructure, supply chain verification and secure cloud operations. The company said it plans to use the intellectual property to support products including USDC, Circle Payments Network, its Arc blockchain and future on-chain financial infrastructure.
"Acquiring IBM's blockchain patent portfolio is a significant milestone for Circle and our vision for the future of the internet financial system," Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire said in announcing the acquisition.
The company said the purchase strengthens its research and development capabilities as blockchain technology moves further into mainstream financial services.
The acquisition comes as Circle expands its payments and tokenization businesses following its public listing earlier this year. Industry analysts said the patent portfolio gives the company a substantial intellectual property position in blockchain technology that could bolster future product development and licensing opportunities as financial institutions accelerate adoption of digital asset infrastructure.
Originally reported by CU Today.