USDC takes major leap into regulated finance with new Ice deal
USDC takes major leap into regulated finance
In a landmark move bridging the worlds of crypto and traditional finance, Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), parent company of the New York Stock Exchange, has partnered with Circle to explore integrating the USDC stablecoin into its global financial infrastructure.
Announced Thursday, the collaboration centers on a memorandum of understanding to examine how USDC and tokenized money market funds could be used across ICE’s clearinghouses, exchanges, and data services, according to the Cryptopolitan.
The goal is to to develop new financial products that combine the trust of regulated markets with the speed and programmability of blockchain-based assets.
“We believe Circle’s regulated stablecoins and tokenized digital currencies can play a larger role in capital markets,” said NYSE President Lynn Martin. “Digital currencies are becoming more accepted as a dollar-equivalent by market participants.”
Stablecoins enter Wall Street’s inner circle
The move marks a significant milestone for USDC, currently the second-largest stablecoin by market cap, as it gains ground on market leader Tether. Unlike its main rival, USDC is backed by fully redeemable reserves—primarily short-term U.S. Treasuries held in the SEC-regulated Circle Reserve Fund.
Jeremy Allaire, CEO of Circle, called the partnership “a major step” in embedding digital dollars into the financial system. “ICE’s global reach opens the door to transformative use cases for USDC,” he said.
The agreement comes as USDC’s market share rises amid regulatory wins in Europe and Asia, while rivals face increased scrutiny. With stablecoins now processing more annual volume than Visa and Mastercard combined, the ICE-Circle deal underscores a broader shift: the institutionalization of crypto is no longer a question of if—but how soon.
Besides that, Stablecoin trading volumes reached new highs as businesses increasingly adopted them. This surge is driving expectations for Bitcoin’s continued growth.
