Circle and LianLian Global announce collaboration to explore next-generation cross-border payments

NEW YORK, DECEMBER 17, 2025 — An affiliate of Circle Internet Group, Inc. (NYSE:CRCL) (“Circle”), a global financial technology firm and the issuer of USDC through its regulated entities, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (‘MOU’) with LianLian Global, a licensed cross-border payments provider. The collaboration will explore opportunities in stablecoin-powered payment infrastructure to support more efficient, transparent, and accessible payment solutions for merchants and platforms operating in international markets.

The collaboration will center on opportunities to strengthen global commerce through more efficient, transparent, and inclusive payment solutions, including ways to:

• Modernize payment infrastructure and treasury management to support faster, more resilient cross-border transactions;
• Enhance cost-efficiency and streamline settlement processes for merchants and platforms;
• Explore how Circle Payments Network could support interoperability between traditional payment rails and blockchain-native infrastructure for near real-time settlement and support always-on global commerce;
• Identify opportunities in emerging markets where digital payment solutions can drive greater access and economic participation; and,
• Leverage Circle’s layer-1 blockchain Arc to support future payment use cases across the LianLian Global network more effectively.

“This collaboration with LianLian Global reflects our continued commitment to advancing open and interoperable financial infrastructure that is built for the needs of the modern economy in Asia and beyond,” said Yam Ki Chan, Vice President, Asia Pacific of Circle. “As digital assets and public blockchains become foundational to the future of commerce, we are pleased to explore how USDC can integrate with LianLian Global’s cross-border solutions for businesses and platforms.”

With operations spanning key international trade corridors and deep expertise in e-commerce payment flows, LianLian Global serves millions of merchants around the world, offering payment services that are tailored for high-growth sectors and cross-border transactions.

This collaboration reflects Circle’s ongoing strategy to work with regulated financial institutions and technology leaders as the use of stablecoins and digital currencies continues to evolve within regulated financial systems.

About LianLian Global

LianLian Global is a comprehensive and innovative enterprise in payment finance and services. With strong compliance strength and technological innovation capabilities, LianLian Global has built a global financial network to reach the world and a trade service network to cover the entire life cycle of merchants. Focusing on the core needs of cross-border enterprises, LianLian Global, together with industry eco-partners, has created a one-stop cross-border trade service platform that integrates store opening assistance, global funds collection, global acquiring, global payout, Lianlian FX, Lianlian financing service platform, tax refund assistance and other services to help brands expand their overseas markets. 

About Circle Internet Group, Inc.

Circle is a global financial technology firm that enables businesses of all sizes to harness the power of digital currencies and public blockchains for payments, commerce, and financial applications worldwide. Circle is building the world’s largest, most-widely used, stablecoin network, and issues, through its regulated affiliates, USDC and EURC stablecoins. Circle provides a comprehensive suite of financial and technology services that empower enterprises and developers to integrate stablecoins and blockchains into their products, services and business operations. For more information please visit https://circle.com.