Circle acquires nearly 1,000 IBM blockchain patents

Circle Internet Group announced the purchase of more than 680 IBM patent families, comprising close to 1,000 issued patents worldwide. The portfolio spans blockchain infrastructure, payments, banking, insurance, supply‑chain verification and secure cloud operations.

Circle says the acquired rights will bolster its stablecoin USDC, the Circle Payments Network, its Arc blockchain platform and future AI‑enabled finance tools. Financial terms were not disclosed, and the companies did not detail licensing arrangements. The transaction, revealed on 27 July 2026, positions Circle as the leading holder of blockchain‑related patents in the United States.