Circle, the company behind the USDC stablecoin, has acquired nearly 1,000 blockchain-related patents from IBM, the companies announced today. The deal gives Circle one of the largest blockchain patent portfolios in the industry, with a particular emphasis on supply chain technology — an area where stablecoins have yet to gain major traction.
The patent portfolio's focus
IBM's blockchain patent portfolio includes more than 680 patent families and nearly 1,000 issued patents worldwide. The patents cover a range of blockchain applications, but IBM has specifically highlighted supply chain use cases. That focus aligns with Circle's recent moves to push USDC beyond crypto trading into real-world payments and enterprise settlements.
What Circle gets — and what it gives up
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Circle will own the patents outright, but IBM is not exiting blockchain entirely — the company will retain its existing blockchain software and services businesses, including its Hyperledger Fabric contributions. The acquisition is structured as a patent assignment, meaning Circle becomes the owner of the intellectual property.
Why now?
The acquisition comes as Circle prepares for a potential public listing and as regulatory clarity around stablecoins improves in the U.S. and Europe. Owning a deep patent library could help Circle defend against litigation and also generate licensing revenue. For IBM, the sale reflects a broader shift away from patent hoarding toward a more focused IP monetization strategy.
Circle has not said whether it plans to license the patents broadly or use them defensively. The company is expected to detail its IP strategy in the coming weeks. For now, the deal positions Circle as a major patent holder in blockchain — a status that could influence how the stablecoin market evolves.
