USDC Stablecoin Issuer Circle Adds Apple Pay to Make Payments Easier

• Financial merchants can now accept USDC on Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) Pay via Circle’s integration.
• Cryptocurrency-oriented platforms and payment processors across broader markets will benefit from this initiative.
• Businesses will be able to embrace a more flexible payment structure as virtual currencies are incorporated into retail payments.
• Circle’s recent development is part of its ongoing efforts to build a dynamic payment system.
• Due to its financial exposure to FTX, Circle is among those firms suffering from the recent cryptocurrency crisis.

Circle, the firm behind the second largest stablecoin, USDC, now supports Apple Pay, aiming to integrate crypto and traditional payments.

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As we strive to bring more people into Web3 and native dollar digital currency (USDC), excited to launch this new on ramp API for developers to connect Apple Pay to USDC settlement. https://t.co/HpkOwynpFe

— Jeremy Allaire (@jerallaire) November 15, 2022

The development comes in two dimensions, the first aids businesses in using USDC as a means of payment. The other side of it allows users of Apple Pay to buy virtual currency from their preferred cryptocurrency exchange using USDC.

Numerous Attempts to Advance Payment and Use of USDC

The recent development is part of a broader effort by Circle to build a dynamic payment system. Last month, Circle incorporated merchant support for Bitcoin and Ethereum. In the announcement, the firm said:

“In addition to USDC, we are also building an open merchant payment platform atop stablecoin infrastructure, facilitating seamless, efficient, frictionless, and delightful transactions between merchants and their consumers.” Furthermore, in June, Circle ventured into the Polygon blockchain to beat the cost of transactions and enhance the processing of payments on its platform. The move intended to assist developers in automating the flow from traditional currencies to Polygon USDC. This will aid them in swapping Polygon USDC for the native USDC on different blockchains.

Circle’s Financial Exposure to FTX

Circle is currently suffering from FTX’s recent crisis as a result of its financial exposure to the cryptocurrency exchange. According to sources, Circle invested about $10.6 million into FTX; the reports emanated after the CEO of Circle, Jeremy Allaire, revealed that Circle is a “tiny” equity holder of FTX.

5/ Circle is a tiny equity holder of FTX, and FTX is a tiny equity holder of Circle. Circle is also a tiny equity holder of Kraken, Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) and BinanceUS.

— Jeremy Allaire (@jerallaire) November 9, 2022

On the Flipside

• Even though Circle is showing efforts to expand its payment infrastructure worldwide, it is still unclear how its exposure to FTX will affect it.

Why You Should Care

Apple Pay is supported worldwide by 5,480 banks and 507 million mobile wallets. Due to the recent integration, crypto payments could become more mainstream around the world.

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See original on DailyCoin