Quick Takeaways
- ClearBank partners with Circle to expand USDC and EURC access through Circle Mint.
- The UK-based bank will be among the first EU banks to join the Circle Payments Network (CPN).
- The collaboration will enable faster, cheaper cross-border payments across traditional and digital finance.
ClearBank Partners With Circle to Spread Out Stablecoin Access
UK-based ClearBank has declared a strategic partnership with Circle, the issuer of USDC and EURC, to scale its stablecoin operation across Europe.
The collaboration will allow ClearBank to mint and redeem USDC and EURC directly through Circle Mint, a blockchain-free service for authorized financial institutions.
As part of the deal, ClearBank will likewise become one of the first European depository financial institutions to join the Circle Payments Network (CPN), a key infrastructure connecting banks and fintechs for on-chain payments.
Driving Stablecoin Adoption Under MiCA Rules
ClearBank’s move comes as the European Union strengthens regulatory clarity under the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework.
Circle became the first planetary stablecoin issuer to follow with microregulation in July 2024, several months before the prescription took full effect.
Through this partnership, ClearBank will integrate its cloud-native banking platform with Circle’s stablecoin infrastructure, improving access to regulated digital currencies for corporate and institutional clients.
Faster and Cheaper Cross-Border Transactions
By joining CPN, ClearBank aims to streamline cross-border payments using tokenized clam and euro, reduce settlement time and transaction costs.
“Joining Circle Payments Network will be a significant milestone in ClearBank’s evolution as a cross-border payments innovator,” said Mark Fairless, CEO of ClearBank.
He added that Circle is redefining the global money movement, bringing traditional banking and blockchain finance closer together.
Expanding the Circle Ecosystem in Europe
The partnership also sets the stage for future initiatives, including stablecoin-based treasury management and tokenized asset settlements.
Circle’s partnership with ClearBank comes after its Deutsche Börse deal to list USDC and EURC on 3DX.
Together, they show Circle’s growing push into Europe and its goal to make stablecoins central to global payments.
