USDC issuer Circle announced on Monday that it has acquired nearly 1,000 blockchain patents from IBM, a move that positions the company as the largest holder of such intellectual property in the United States. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
The acquired portfolio includes more than 680 patent families and nearly 1,000 issued patents globally, with a focus on areas such as blockchain technology, banking, insurance, enterprise infrastructure, supply-chain verification, and cloud security. Circle stated that this intellectual property will support its existing products, including USDC and its Arc blockchain, and will be utilized for developing financial tools for AI agents.
IBM has historically been a significant filer of blockchain patents, with a peak in filings between 2018 and 2019. The company's blockchain efforts have notably concentrated on supply chain applications aimed at enhancing product transparency. Circle and IBM also plan to explore future commercial partnerships.
Sarah Wilson, Circle's general counsel and corporate secretary, highlighted the acquisition's role in advancing the infrastructure for global, internet-native finance.
