Circle Internet Group (NYSE: CRCL) announced on July 27 the acquisition of IBM's blockchain patent portfolio, adding more than 680 patent families and nearly 1,000 issued patents worldwide to its intellectual property holdings. The stablecoin issuer stated the acquisition positions Circle as the largest holder of blockchain patents among US companies. Circle general counsel Sarah Wilson said the portfolio will advance infrastructure for global, internet-native finance, supporting products including USDC, Circle Payments Network, and Arc blockchain. The patents span blockchain technology, banking, enterprise infrastructure, supply chain verification, and secure cloud operations, though Circle did not disclose financial terms of the deal.
Circle Acquires IBM Blockchain Patent Portfolio
Circle Internet Group said on July 27 it had acquired IBM's blockchain patent portfolio, adding more than 680 patent families and nearly 1,000 issued patents worldwide to its intellectual property. The company, which issues the USDC stablecoin, said the acquisition makes it the largest holder of blockchain patents among US companies.
Circle said the portfolio will support products including USDC, Circle Payments Network, and its Arc blockchain infrastructure. These patents span blockchain technology, banking, enterprise infrastructure, supply chain verification, and secure cloud operations. Circle did not disclose the financial terms of the deal.
"IBM has been a pioneer in technological innovation, and this acquisition expands Circle's ability to advance the infrastructure that powers global, internet-native finance," Circle general counsel Sarah Wilson said.
Circle Stock Price Rises Following Announcement
Circle shares rose after the announcement. CRCL traded at $65.57 at the time of writing, up 3.21% on the day.
Circle Expands Through Hashnote Acquisition and IPO Performance
The IBM patent purchase follows Circle's January 21, 2025 acquisition of Hashnote, the issuer of the USYC tokenized money market fund. At the time, USYC held approximately $1.52 billion in assets and was described as the world's largest tokenized Treasury and money market fund.
The two acquisitions highlight Circle's push to become a broader digital financial infrastructure provider rather than solely a stablecoin issuer. Its platform now spans stablecoins, tokenized funds, payments, and its Arc layer-1 blockchain.
Circle's stock remains well above its initial public offering price. The company priced 34 million shares at $31 on June 4, 2025, before beginning trading on the New York Stock Exchange on June 5. Shares opened at $69 and finished their first trading session at $83.23, more than doubling the IPO price during Circle's blockbuster market debut. CRCL was trading about 110% above its IPO price at publication.
FAQ
What did Circle acquire on July 27?
Circle Internet Group announced on July 27 the acquisition of IBM's blockchain patent portfolio, adding more than 680 patent families and nearly 1,000 issued patents worldwide to its intellectual property holdings. Circle stated the acquisition makes it the largest holder of blockchain patents among US companies.
How did Circle's stock react to the IBM patent acquisition announcement?
Circle shares rose after the announcement. CRCL traded at $65.57 at the time of writing, up 3.21% on the day.
What other acquisition did Circle complete in 2025?
Circle acquired Hashnote on January 21, 2025. Hashnote is the issuer of the USYC tokenized money market fund, which held approximately $1.52 billion in assets at the time and was described as the world's largest tokenized Treasury and money market fund.
