Circle Secures Massive Blockchain Patent Portfolio from IBM

Circle has made a significant move in the blockchain space by acquiring over 680 patent families and nearly 1,000 issued patents from IBM's blockchain portfolio. The acquisition makes Circle one of the largest holders of blockchain-related patents in the US.

The deal includes patents spanning foundational blockchain technology, banking, financial services, insurance, enterprise infrastructure, supply chain verification, and secure cloud operations.

Circle plans to use the acquired intellectual property to strengthen its products, including the USDC stablecoin, Circle Payments Network, and Arc blockchain platform. The company also stated that it will explore additional commercial opportunities with IBM beyond the patent acquisition.