# Circle plans to enter about 40 emerging and developing countries, CEO Jeremy Allaire says

Canonical page: https://technooptimist.io/stories/circle-plans-to-enter-about-40-emerging-and-developing-countries-ceo-d6a7533f
Date: 16 Oct 2026
About: [Circle](https://technooptimist.io/companies/circle.md) · [USDC](https://technooptimist.io/crypto/usdc.md)
Original source: https://decrypt.co/381178/circle-40-emerging-markets-stablecoins-go-mainstream

Circle is preparing to expand into roughly 40 emerging and developing countries, CEO Jeremy Allaire told Reuters, with rising demand cited in Southeast Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. The report names no countries and gives no start dates, so the timing of the push is unclear. Allaire said blockchain is entering a mainstream scaling phase.

## Key facts

- USDC holds about 25% of the stablecoin market, against roughly 60% for Tether's USDT.
- USDC circulation rose 19% year on year to $73.3 billion in the second quarter.
- Circle's $400 million acquisition of payments firm Tazapay and a $100 million strategic investment from Binance are cited in the report.
- Allaire called the GENIUS Act, which takes effect in January, a watershed moment, and warned that AI raises security risks for financial infrastructure.

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