Circle buys nearly 1,000 blockchain patents from IBM
Circle has acquired nearly 1,000 blockchain-related patents from IBM to bolster its intellectual property portfolio. The company intends to use these assets to support its USDC stablecoin, payment networks, and AI-driven financial tools.
Why it matters
This acquisition signals a major consolidation of blockchain intellectual property by a key industry player, potentially impacting future innovation and legal landscapes in the crypto sector.
The portfolio spans more than 680 patent families covering blockchain technology, banking, financial services, insurance, enterprise infrastructure, supply-chain verification and cloud security, according to a press release .
The deal’s financial terms weren’t disclosed.
IBM was already among the largest U.S. blockchain patent holders before the sale. A December 2025 analysis by patent analytics firm PatSnap credited it with 790 patents, alongside Advanced New Technologies and Bank of America.
Circle said the portfolio would support USDC, Circle Payments Network, its Arc blockchain and financial tools designed for AI agents. Circle and IBM also plan to explore further commercial opportunities, the document adds.
“Intellectual property is critical to advancing our mission and expanding adoption of onchain infrastructure,” said Sarah Wilson, Circle’s general counsel and corporate secretary.
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