A network for
global money movement
Connecting banks, PSPs, VASPs, and enterprises to enable consumer, business, and institutional payment use cases via stablecoins.
Partners
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Without boundaries1 or delays
CPN enables fast, cost-effective, and compliant global payments.
24/7 near-instant settlement
Blockchain transactions can settle in seconds, so you can mitigate prefunding and increase capital efficiency.
Compliance-first architecture
All CPN partners are vetted for appropriate licensing, regulatory compliance, operational risk management, security, and more.
One-to-many global integration
Onboard with a single tech stack that unlocks global fiat payouts without requiring bilateral agreements.
Banking advisors
These advisors are contributing their deep expertise in global payments to assist Circle in designing a network that meets the high standards of trust and operational integrity of leading banks and financial institutions worldwide.
By orchestrating stablecoin payments, Circle Payments Network enables payment providers to unlock new markets and new business models faster than ever before.”
Purpose-built for financial innovators
Banks
Modernize settlement with stablecoins and deliver 24/7 payouts in supported local currencies — all on a network built for financial institutions.
Payment providers
Offer customers near-instant, transparent transfers and open new corridors without stitching together dozens of local partners.
Virtual asset service providers
Scale your reach and simplify access by connecting with institutions around the world that need trusted ramps and real-time settlement.
Enterprises
Simplify treasury, payroll, and supplier payouts worldwide, cutting working-capital lock-ups and gaining real-time visibility with USDC-powered transfers at internet speed.
How CPN transactions work
An Originating Financial Institution (OFI) originates the payment on behalf of the sender: it verifies the customer, performs necessary checks, converts local currency to stablecoins, and sends the stablecoins. A Beneficiary Financial Institution (BFI) receives the stablecoins, converts them to local fiat currency, and pays the end recipient.
FAQs
Circle Payments Network (CPN) is a global network of partners, including banks, payment service providers (PSPs), virtual asset service providers (VASPs), and enterprises, who enable consumer, business, and institutional payments with 24/7 real-time settlement via stablecoins like USDC and EURC.
CPN unlocks a variety of benefits by combining the best of legacy fiat rails with the innovations of programmable, onchain money in the form of stablecoins. With CPN, network participants can:
- Facilitate third-party fiat payouts: Modernize cross-border payments using stablecoins as an intermediary settlement layer to facilitate fiat payouts around the world.
- Expand globally via a single API and agreement: Enter new markets faster without having to integrate locally or negotiate complex bilateral agreements.
- Unlock trapped capital: Eliminate the need for prefunding local nostro accounts, freeing up working capital and improving liquidity.
- Reduce compliance burden: Embedded tools within CPN simplify compliance at scale, reducing manual overhead and minimizing regulatory friction.
Only financial institutions that meet CPN’s eligibility requirements can join and transact on the network. Eligibility reviews are tailored to each jurisdiction’s regulatory oversight. Additionally, CPN includes built-in features to enhance compliance and risk transparency:
- Travel Rule: Enforced in accordance with FATF guidelines.
- Operational Rules: CPN’s Trust Engine enables participants to define and enforce tailored criteria for transactions and counterparties, aligning with their risk appetite, business policies, and regulatory obligations.
- Participant operational support: CPN provides well-defined operational guidelines, including service-level agreements (SLAs) as defined in the CPN Rules, that include expectations for uptime, transaction speed, dispute resolution, and timely information sharing.
Circle acts as the governing and standard-setting body for CPN and serves as the network operator. In such capacity, Circle isn’t a money transmitter and doesn’t move funds directly. Here’s what that means:
- Setting the rules: Circle creates and maintains the Circle Payments Network Rules (CPN Rules), which outline who can participate and how everything works.
- Defining the protocol: Circle defines the CPN protocol and provides developer APIs, helping financial institutions connect easily and securely within the network.
CPN is internet-native, open, and designed for multichain flexibility. CPN supports Ethereum, Polygon, Solana, and EVM-compatible chains. Each financial institution can select the blockchain(s) they operate on based on their respective internal risk, compliance, operational, and security requirements. Circle works closely with network participants to support their chosen chain and facilitate smooth integration.
CPN is also stablecoin-agnostic, however USDC and EURC are currently used for settlement. Additional regulated stablecoins may be enabled in the future. Fiat payouts are managed by Originating Financial Institutions (OFIs) and Beneficiary Financial Institutions (BFIs), so CPN supports any fiat currency they operate in.
- Subject to applicable laws and regulations. Service not available in sanctioned countries.
Circle Technology Services, LLC (CTS) is the operator of Circle Payments Network (CPN) and offers products and services to financial institutions that participate in CPN to facilitate their CPN access and integration. CPN connects participating financial institutions around the world, with CTS serving as the technology service provider to participating financial institutions. While CTS does not hold funds or manage accounts on behalf of customers, we enable the global ecosystem of participating financial institutions to connect directly with each other, communicate securely, and settle directly with each other. CTS is not a party to transactions between participating financial institutions facilitated by CPN who use CPN to execute transactions at their own risk. Use of CPN is subject to the CPN Rules and the CPN Participation Agreement between CTS and a participating financial institution.