Circle targets cross-chain future with strategic Axelar developer deal

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Yaroslav Dmytrenko

15.12.2025

Circle targets cross-chain future with strategic Axelar developer deal — Circle moves to boost USDC interoperability with Axelar team acquisition

Stablecoin issuer Circle has announced that in early 2026 it will acquire the team and intellectual property of Interop Labs, the developer behind the Axelar cross-chain platform. Described as a strategic decision, the move strengthens Circle’s infrastructure supporting more than $30 billion in circulating USDC.

The acquisition, expected to close in early 2026, aims to integrate Interop Labs’ technology—developed as a core component of the Axelar cross-chain ecosystem—into Circle’s broader initiatives.

The deal includes only the Interop Labs team and its proprietary assets, while the Axelar network, foundation, and token-related operations will remain fully independent. This structure is designed to enable continued innovation without compromising Axelar’s governance principles or open-source commitments.

The announcement generated significant discussion across the crypto community and was widely viewed as a strategic step toward making USDC the most interconnected and user-friendly stablecoin.

According to CoinMarketCap, although USDC is already available across multiple blockchains, seamless movement between them has often been challenging for both users and developers. By acquiring the team behind Axelar, Circle gains deep in-house expertise in cross-chain communication, directly addressing blockchain fragmentation.

A Strategic move shaping the future of stablecoins

Rather than relying on external protocols, Circle will now be able to directly integrate and refine technology that enables secure interaction between different blockchains.

Developing infrastructure that allows USDC to move between Ethereum, Solana, Avalanche, and dozens of other networks with a single click could establish a new industry standard and remove many barriers faced by users and developers.

However, such a critical integration is not without challenges. The key issue will be ensuring that the combined teams uphold the security and decentralization principles at the core of the Axelar protocol while aligning with Circle’s corporate structure and strategic goals. Additionally, the crypto community will be watching closely to see whether this acquisition results in a more open ecosystem or a more closed approach to USDC.

As we wrote, Circle creates USDCx: Why company needs anonymous stablecoin

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