Circle Internet Group, Inc. has officially launched the Circle Payments Network (CPN) Mainnet on May 21, 2025, introducing a blockchain-based system enabling real-time global cross-border payments and settlements using the USDC stablecoin.
The CPN aims to revolutionize the traditionally slow and costly cross-border payment sector by offering 24/7 settlements, transparency, and programmability. This payment network lowers transaction delays and costs, enhancing financial connectivity worldwide and benefitting banks, neo-banks, payment service providers, and their clients.
The initial group of participants includes financial services companies such as Alfred Pay, Tazapay, Conduit, and RedotPay, mainly operating across Latin America and Asia. With APIs and webhooks, participants gain real-time visibility into transaction and compliance statuses.
Circle positions CPN as foundational for a broader transition toward blockchain-based financial systems with plans to expand into regions including Nigeria, the EU, UK, Colombia, India, UAE, China, Turkey, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Argentina during 2025.
Circle’s CEO, Jeremy Allaire, and Chief Strategy Officer, Dante Disparte, highlight that the network addresses long-standing inefficiencies in global payments, enabling financial institutions to move money instantly and transparently. The initiative reflects a major milestone in the integration of regulated stablecoins like USDC and EURC into mainstream financial infrastructure, promoting global financial inclusion and creating competitive advantages for emerging markets.