Fast, Cheap, Transparent: New Circle Network Redefines Cross-Border Cash Flow
Circle has finally announced the launch of its payment system, Circle Payments Network (CPN), on April 22, 2025, at its headquarters in One World Trade Center, New York.
Jeremy Allaire, the CEO of Circle, revealed the network will leverage regulated stablecoins like USDC and EURC for cross-border payments. With the intention to connect financial institutions globally, CPN will provide faster, cost-effective, and more transparent transactions.
The network is expected to be available for a limited capacity in May 2025, with registration available on the dedicated CPN website
The CPN launch was announced at a time when stablecoin adoption is growing globally, with USDC surpassing Tether in transaction volume in April 2024, according to Visa data.
Allaire explained Circle’s mission, stating, “Since our founding, we’ve aimed to make moving money as simple as sending an email.” The event, attended by industry leaders, signals CPN’s potential to address inefficiencies in global payments, particularly for fast-growing markets.
A Smarter Way to Move Money Across Borders
Presently, cross-border payments face several difficulties, with settlements often exceeding one day and fees averaging above 6%, per World Bank data. These delays, caused by intermediaries and compliance processes, affect economic growth in developing markets.
Global remittance costs (Source: World Bank)
CPN addresses these challenges by allowing 24/7 real-time settlement using stablecoins, delivering speed, transparency, and programmability.
The network supports multiple use cases, including supplier payments, remittances, payroll, and capital markets settlement. Built on smart contract technology and modular APIs, CPN allows developers to create innovative financial solutions.
Its strong governance frameworks offer compliance with strict standards for licensing, anti-money laundering (AML), counter-terrorism financing (CFT), and cybersecurity.
Advisors such as Banco Santander, Deutsche Bank, Société Générale, and Standard Chartered Bank back the network, with Standard Chartered’s Michael Spiegel describing the compliance-first approach as “a game changer.”
Big Names Back Circle Vision for Global Payments
Circle Payment Network is backed by a diverse group of design partners, including Alfred Pay, BCB Group, BVNK, CoinMENA, Coins.ph, dLocal, Flutterwave, Nuvei, and Yellow Card, to ensure global market flexibility.
Fireblocks, a digital asset infrastructure provider, supports CPN’s scalability and security. Nikhil Chandhok, Circle’s Chief Product and Technology Officer, called the network “a foundational layer for the always-on economy.”
A white paper detailing CPN’s architecture is available on Circle. The network’s phased rollout, starting in May 2025, will allow testing ahead of general adoption.
With Circle building on its stablecoin leadership—based on its founding in 2013 and launch of USDC in 2018—CPN positions the company to redefine global finance. The network has the potential to make cross-border payments as seamless as digital communication.
