Circle Unveils CPN to Streamline Global Payments With USDC and EURC

Circle (the issuer of USDC, the second-largest stablecoin by market cap) has announced the launch of the Circle Payments Network (CPN). The new payments network is designed for financial institutions and focuses on cross-border transactions in stablecoins. 

It will enable banks, fintech companies, payment platforms, and remittance providers to settle directly with one another using USDC, EURC, and other regulated stablecoins. 

Additionally, the network will offer real-time settlements, without intermediaries and without the delays commonly associated with traditional payment systems.

The launch of CPN marks Circle’s response to the cost and inefficiency of legacy infrastructure. According to the World Bank, cross-border transfers can still take more than a day to complete and often come with fees exceeding 6%, particularly in developing economies. 

Key challenges include: 

• Multiple intermediaries
• Non-overlapping operating hours
• Complex compliance infrastructure

CPN aims to solve these problems through direct blockchain integration. Only licensed financial institutions that meet established standards for anti-money laundering (AML), risk management, and cybersecurity can participate in the network. However, Circle does not serve as a settlement counterparty. Instead, it acts as a technology provider and sets the rules for network access.

You might also like: AML: Stopping Money Laundering in Its Tracks

The network is already forming a growing ecosystem. 

Design partners include:

• Deutsche Bank 
• Société Générale 
• Standard Chartered 
• Dozens of regional fintech companies

Integration with CPN will be available through APIs and modular smart contracts, enabling institutions to connect with existing systems.

Why Circle Is Launching Its Own Network: Competing with Visa and Redefining the Role of Stablecoins

With the launch of CPN, Circle is signaling its ambition to expand beyond Web3 infrastructure and position itself alongside major players in the traditional payments market. 

The company has been open about its objective. It aims to build an alternative to networks like Visa and Mastercard, using stablecoins and smart contracts as the foundation. 

This approach could lower transaction costs, remove intermediaries, and enable real-time settlement around the clock without relying on banking hours or clearing windows.

Related: Circle Brings Trustless Refunds to USDC With New Onchain Protocol

A defining aspect of Circle’s approach is its focus on institutional adoption. Participation in the network is limited to licensed entities that meet established requirements for compliance, risk management, and technical reliability. 

This structure allows the network to operate within regulatory frameworks while retaining key advantages of blockchain technology: 

• Transparency
• Programmability
• Direct integration with on-chain products

However, CPN is more than a new product. It represents a return to Circle’s foundation as a company originally focused on building payment solutions. 

Today, Circle is betting on stablecoins as a part of global payment infrastructure. The goal is to make them useful not only within the crypto ecosystem but also in the daily operations of banks and corporations.

Read more: Living with Stablecoins: The Use Cases Explained