Ant International Taps Circle to Bring USDC Stablecoin to Its Blockchain
Jack Ma-Backed Ant International Eyes USDC Integration, Pending U.S. Regulatory Approval
Ant International—the global payments arm of Jack Ma’s Ant Group—is preparing to integrate USDC, the world’s second-largest dollar-pegged stablecoin, into its AntChain blockchain, according to a report from Bloomberg. The move, still contingent on U.S. regulatory clearance, marks a significant step in connecting the global payment rails of traditional finance with regulated digital currencies.
Lulu Yilun Chen
The collaboration with Circle, the company behind USDC, would give Ant direct access to a digital dollar infrastructure that supports faster, programmable settlements—a potential game-changer for merchants, banks, and fintech partners in over a dozen global markets.
Why USDC, and Why Now?
USDC’s adoption by Ant comes at a pivotal time. Stablecoins tied 1:1 to the U.S. dollar—currently worth around $250 billion in global circulation—are poised for explosive growth. Former U.S. Treasury official Scott Bessent estimates that number could swell past $2 trillion by 2028 if stablecoin regulation continues to advance.
Circle, which went public in June, has made no secret of its global ambitions. Its partnerships with major fintech players like Stripe and OKX, along with its push for a U.S. national bank charter, reflect a strategy to embed USDC deeply into financial infrastructure. The collaboration with Ant International could be one of its most impactful yet, opening access to one of the largest non-U.S. payment ecosystems.
Ant’s blockchain, AntChain, launched in 2020 and already supports tokenized deposits and digital assets from global institutions including HSBC, JPMorgan, and Standard Chartered. Adding USDC would deepen AntChain’s role as a multi-asset settlement layer for cross-border finance.
A Push for Regulated Crypto in Asia and Beyond
While Ant International awaits regulatory clarity in the U.S., it’s also actively pursuing stablecoin licenses in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Luxembourg. The company’s ambitions go beyond blockchain infrastructure. With its Alipay+ network powering payments for Alibaba’s platforms and global partners, Ant is positioning itself to be a key player in the next wave of regulated digital finance.
That push may also set the stage for a long-rumored initial public offering, with valuations for Ant International reportedly ranging from $8 billion to $24 billion, depending on timing and regulatory conditions.
No Timeline Yet—but the Stakes Are High
Neither Ant nor Circle has announced a specific launch date or disclosed details about the pilot rollout. But if successful, the integration would bring USDC into one of the most widely used payment networks outside the U.S., potentially extending stablecoin use to millions of merchants and users operating in 15+ currencies.
Such a development could shift the global stablecoin landscape—offering real-time settlement, lower costs, and increased transparency for cross-border transactions at scale.