Circle Acquires IBM Blockchain Patent Library in $Billions-Plus Deal

Circle, the company behind USDC (the digital dollar used for payments and international transfers), has acquired IBM's blockchain patent library. This deal gives Circle over 1,000 blockchain patents worldwide.

The patents were issued to IBM since its mid-2010s enterprise blockchain push. By December 2025, IBM held 790 U.S. blockchain patents, more than any other American company, with Bank of America second at around 200.

Circle received its first patent in December 2023 and has quickly risen to the top of the U.S. rankings. The acquired portfolio includes over 680 patent families and nearly 1,000 issued patents worldwide, spanning blockchain technology, banking, and financial services.

Circle plans to use these patents across its entire stack, including USDC, Circle Payments Network, Arc (its payment-focused blockchain), and agentic financial tools. Sarah Wilson, Circle's General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, says intellectual property is critical for advancing their mission and expanding adoption of onchain infrastructure.