Binance invests $100 million in Circle under expanded five-year USDC partnership
Binance has acquired a $100 million equity stake in stablecoin issuer Circle through a private placement alongside an expanded five-year agreement to promote and distribute USDC across its platform.
Binance has purchased 1,237,011 Class A shares of Circle at $80.84 per share in a private placement totaling approximately $100 million. The equity investment carries a two-year lock-up period, and reports indicated the shares were purchased at a discount relative to market prices.[3][5][7][8][11][12]
The share purchase coincided with a new five-year commercial agreement between the two firms. Under the arrangement, Binance will promote the USDC stablecoin across its global platform, while Circle will pay Binance monthly incentive fees tied to the volume of USDC held through Circle's wallet infrastructure. The specific fee rate under the new deal has not been publicly disclosed.[3][4][11][8][9]
The five-year pact replaces an earlier agreement from late 2024 that included a $60.25 million upfront payment from Circle to Binance. Circle Chief Executive Jeremy Allaire said the expanded alliance is designed to accelerate USDC adoption across global and emerging markets, while Binance Chief Executive Richard Teng described the transaction and commitment as a sign of long-duration conviction in Circle and USDC.[1][4][9][12]
Key facts
- Circle sold 1,237,011 Class A shares to Binance at $80.84 each in a $100 million private placement.
- The shares acquired by Binance carry a two-year lock-up period.
- Circle and Binance entered into an expanded five-year commercial partnership to promote USDC adoption across Binance's platform.
- Circle will pay Binance an undisclosed monthly incentive fee based on USDC balances held through Circle's wallet infrastructure.
- The new five-year agreement replaces an earlier two-year partnership from late 2024 that included a $60.25 million upfront payment from Circle.
- The renewed deal specifically emphasizes expanding USDC products and adoption across emerging markets.
Sources · 12 sources
- JA
Jeremy Allaire@jerallairePost on X ·
Today we announced a significant expansion of our partnership with @binance, including a new 5-year deal to promote and drive $USDC adoption across Binance global platforms, and that Binance has taken a $100m strategic stake in $CRCL. As the world’s largest and most widely used wallet for stablecoins and onchain finance, the partnership will accelerate global and emerging market preference and adoption of USDC. The internet financial system is expanding everywhere and this partnership will help to expand access to this new financial system to hundreds of millions of people and businesses around the world. https://t.co/vIqr6NXzuk
Open source - CO
Cointelegraph@CointelegraphPost on X ·
🔥 NEW: Binance invested $100M in Circle to expand USDC adoption in emerging markets. https://t.co/pB4RCwRm4A
Open source - TB
The Block@TheBlockCoPost on X ·
THE BLOCK: Binance has purchased $100 million worth of Circle shares at $80.84 each in a private placement, according to an SEC filing. The companies also agreed to a five-year commercial deal under which Circle will pay Binance monthly fees based on the amount of USDC held through its wallet infrastructure.
Open source - CR
CryptoSlate@CryptoSlatePost on X ·
USDC balances on Binance have nearly quintupled since Circle’s first deal with the exchange. Circle is paying heavily for that reach. It paid Binance $60.25 million upfront under the original agreement, while distribution costs now equal about 61% of reserve income. The new five-year deal keeps the relationship going, but the latest incentive rate is undisclosed. https://t.co/j6RQIuvIAw
Open source - CN
crypto.news@cryptodotnewsPost on X ·
BREAKING: Binance invests $100 million in Circle equity Circle issued 1,237,011 Class A shares to Binance at $80.84 each under a private placement with a two-year lock-up, alongside an expanded five-year USDC deal that will see Binance promote USDC while receiving monthly incentive fees from Circle.
Open source - SN
Saanjana Nikita@Saanjana_NikitaPost on X ·
binance just took a $100M stake in circle and signed a 5-year deal to push USDC harder since their first deal in dec 2024, USDC markets on binance went from 140 to 329. monthly volume has basically doubled and is now consistently above $80B that’s not just organic growth. binance is clearly giving USDC a much bigger push on the platform but USDT is still way ahead $140B market cap vs $74B for USDC a lot of that comes down to familiarity people have been using USDT for years i don’t think this flips the market overnight, but @binance could become a pretty serious growth engine for USDC now i’m watching how that market share changes over the next couple quarters
Open source - CO
CoinDesk@CoinDeskPost on X ·
BREAKING: @Binance buys $100M in @Circle shares as part of a five-year $USDC promotion deal, receiving 1.24M Class A shares at $80.84 each in a private placement with a two-year lock-up on the stake. https://t.co/LjALWoKbY9
Open source - CB
Coin Bureau@coinbureauPost on X ·
🔥HUGE: Binance has invested $100 MILLION in Circle and renewed their strategic partnership for another five years. The deal will expand USDC across Binance’s global platform, with a major focus on emerging markets. Binance purchased Circle shares through a private placement at a 5% discount to $CRCL’s market price before closing. Binance will lead USDC distribution and adoption, while Circle will provide the underlying infrastructure.
Open source - TM
That Martini Guy ₿@MartiniGuyYTPost on X ·
Binance has invested $100 million in Circle stock and signed a new five-year deal to expand USDC services As part of the agreement, Binance will increase the promotion, integration and availability of USDC to its global user base Circle will also pay Binance monthly incentives linked to USDC held through its infrastructure Binance CEO Richard Teng says the investment and five-year commitment represent “long-duration conviction” in Circle and USDC
Open source - CB
Crypto Briefing@Crypto_BriefingPost on X ·
💥 JUST IN: Binance has invested $100 million in Circle and plans to expand USDC products and incentives across emerging markets, per WSJ. https://t.co/DJXp9LMJNv
Open source - DN
DEGEN NEWS@DegenerateNewsPost on X ·
BREAKING: @binance INVESTS $100M IN @circle EQUITY Circle issued and sold Binance 1,237,011 shares at $80.84 per share This equity investment happened at the same time as an expanded five-year commercial deal Circle will pay Binance a monthly incentive fee (a percentage of USDC held through Circle’s Modular Smart Contract Wallet infrastructure), and Binance will promote USDC on its platform SOURCE: https://t.co/NhT4s4HCd1
Open source - LS
Laura Shin@laurashinPost on X ·
Circle's new Binance deal runs five years. The one it replaces, from November 2024, ran two, and came with a $60.25 million upfront payment from Circle. This time Binance paid Circle $100 million for stock, at a discount, and is locked up for two years. https://t.co/gpX5rzROvt
Open source