Circle Secures New York Trust Charter for USDC Issuer

The New York State Department of Financial Services approved a limited-purpose trust charter for Circle Internet Group, operating as Circle New York Trust. This regulatory approval enables the issuer of the USDC stablecoin to manage trust functions within one of the strictest financial frameworks in the United States.

This milestone follows a series of strategic expansions in July 2026. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency granted final approval for the company to establish a national trust bank on July 10, and on July 27, the company acquired a blockchain patent portfolio from IBM comprising over 680 patent families. These combined efforts aim to lower legal uncertainty and drive institutional use of digital dollars.

The company's growth is reflected in its first quarter 2026 earnings, which showed USDC circulation reaching $77 billion. Additionally, onchain transaction volume grew 263% year-over-year to $21.5 trillion.