Circle's $33.6M Chelsea Deal Exposes Regulatory Gap Surrounding USDC

Circle, the publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange, has signed a one-year Principal Partner deal with Chelsea FC worth an estimated $33.6 million to $50 million for the 2026/27 season.

The agreement places 'USDC by CIRCLE' across men's, women's, and academy shirts, marking the first time a regulated crypto company has landed a Premier League shirt deal.

Circle holds an FCA Electronic Money Institution license granted in 2018, making it the only crypto sponsor in English football history to receive authorization before signing the deal.

The partnership is significant because Circle's USDC stablecoin is not issued or regulated under UK law, creating a regulatory gap that will stay open until October 2027.