Circle to Acquire Tazapay, Expanding USDC Cross-Border Payments Network

Circle, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, has agreed to acquire Singapore-based cross-border payments platform Tazapay in a deal expected to close in 2027, pending approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore and customary closing conditions. The acquisition aims to strengthen Circle's ability to route USDC payments globally on a near-instant, 24/7 basis, with a particular focus on Asia-Pacific and emerging markets. Circle's NYSE-listed shares (CRCL) slipped more than 2% in Tuesday premarket trading following the announcement.

Tazapay currently processes more than $25 billion in annualized payment volume, up from $10 billion reported in August 2025, and serves over 60 banking and fintech partners with local payout rails spanning more than 100 markets. Stablecoins already account for roughly 60% of the company's transaction volume, according to Circle. Tazapay has been a design partner for the Circle Payments Network since 2025, and Circle previously participated in Tazapay's August 2025 Series B round, which brought the startup's total funding to $57.9 million. XRP-issuer Ripple was also among the investors in that round.

"This acquisition will increase Circle's capability to originate and terminate payments globally, near-instant and 24/7, which is a meaningful step toward making USDC the default payment rail for cross-border commerce," said Irfan Ganchi, senior vice president of payments at Circle. Circle confirmed that Tazapay customers should experience no disruption to services, APIs, pricing, or support during the transition. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The move comes as analysts at Bernstein projected a new USDC growth cycle, setting a $140 price target for Circle. By integrating Tazapay's payout infrastructure, Circle is positioning USDC as a competitive alternative to traditional correspondent banking networks, targeting the trillions of dollars in annual cross-border payment flows where speed, cost, and settlement certainty remain persistent pain points for businesses and financial institutions alike.