# Binance invests $100m in rival Circle, deepens USDC ties

> The crypto exchange buys a stake in Circle and commits to a five-year partnership to expand the USDC stablecoin globally, reversing years of fierce competition.
- Title: Binance invests $100m in rival Circle, deepens USDC ties
- Summary: The crypto exchange buys a stake in Circle and commits to a five-year partnership to expand the USDC stablecoin globally, reversing years of fierce…
- Keywords: binance, circle, usdc, stablecoins, cryptocurrency, investment, invests, 100m, rival, deepens, ties, Fortune
- Source: Fortune — https://fortune.com/2026/09/22/binance-100-million-one-time-rival-circle-usdc-partnership
- Author: Camila Grigera Naón
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: binance, circle, usdc, stablecoins, cryptocurrency, investment
## Binance backs Circle with $100m
Binance announced a one hundred million dollar investment in Circle, the issuer of USDC stablecoin, as part of a new five-year partnership to expand the token's global reach.
## How the deal works
Binance purchased ordinary shares in Circle at a five percent discount and agreed not to sell or transfer them for up to two years. Circle will supply technology while Binance expands USDC adoption in developing markets.
## What the leaders say
Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire said the companies see opportunities to leverage USDC to expand dollar access. Binance co-CEO Richard Teng called the investment a reflection of the exchange's long-duration conviction in Circle.

> Together, we see incredible opportunities to leverage USDC to expand dollar access.
## USDC's market position
Circle's USDC token has a market capitalization of nearly seventy six billion dollars, making it the second-largest stablecoin after Tether's USDT, which has a market cap of roughly one hundred eighty three billion dollars.
## From rivals to partners
In late two thousand twenty-two, Binance cut off USDC support and converted customers' balances to its own BUSD stablecoin. After regulators shut down BUSD in two thousand twenty-three, Binance and Circle announced a strategic partnership roughly a year later.
## Stablecoins' rapid growth
Stablecoins have grown rapidly over the last two years following a more favorable regulatory climate. After the passage in two thousand twenty-five of the Genius Act, the sector's combined value climbed above three hundred six billion dollars.
## Key takeaway

Binance invested one hundred million dollars in Circle and signed a five-year deal to expand USDC adoption, marking a dramatic reversal from their rivalry just years ago.