Jack Ma-backed Ant Group to adopt USDC for its blockchain platform to power cross-border payments, crypto transactions

Ant Group, China’s foremost fintech and digital technology provider, founded by billionaire Jack Ma, will integrate Circle’s USDC stablecoin into its blockchain platform as part of its global expansion efforts focused on regulated crypto assets, Bloomberg reported Thursday.

The Chinese fintech powerhouse, famous for its flagship platform Alipay, is collaborating with Circle Internet Group to facilitate the integration. The initiative follows Circle’s debut on the New York Stock Exchange, which helps strengthen the company’s global credibility and regulatory standing.

Circle’s shares surged 5% in pre-market trading on Thursday, Yahoo Finance data shows. The stock rose as high as $263 late last month.

The collaboration follows the US Senate’s passage of stablecoin legislation in June, boosting the credibility and institutional adoption of stablecoins. Circle is one of the few stablecoin-focused public companies to benefit from this regulatory momentum.

The integration is being led by Ant International, the company’s overseas arm. Ant International plans to integrate USDC into its blockchain platform once the token achieves full compliance with US regulations.

The collaboration could accelerate the institutionalization of stablecoins in Asia and Europe. Ant International is currently seeking stablecoin-related licenses in several key financial jurisdictions, including Singapore, Hong Kong, and Luxembourg.

If granted, the license would allow Ant to use USDC and other tokenized assets for treasury operations and cross-border settlements under clear regulatory oversight.

For Circle, the alliance with Ant could extend the reach of USDC into Asia’s massive cross-border payment corridors and validate the stablecoin’s use in enterprise settings beyond the US.

Ant’s blockchain network already plays a major role in its financial infrastructure, supporting one-third of the $1 trillion in global transactions it processed last year.