Circle has acquired nearly 1,000 blockchain patents from IBM, becoming the largest patent holder in the U.S. in this sector.
Circle has made a significant move in the blockchain space by acquiring nearly 1,000 patents from IBM, solidifying its position as the largest patent holder in this sector in the United States.
This acquisition includes over 680 patent families across various industries, covering blockchain technology, banking, insurance, and cloud security, though the financial details remain undisclosed.
Circle, recognized for its stablecoin USDC, announced the acquisition, which is set to enhance its offerings, including the Arc blockchain and AI-driven financial tools. The company aims to leverage the patents to strengthen its USDC and Circle Payments Network.
Prior to this transaction, IBM was a major player in the blockchain patent arena, with a report from December 2025 highlighting its ownership of 790 patents, placing it among the top holders alongside Advanced New Technologies and Bank of America.
Circle's general counsel, Sarah Wilson, emphasized the importance of intellectual property in advancing the company's mission and promoting the adoption of on-chain infrastructure. She stated, “Intellectual property is critical to advancing our mission and expanding adoption of onchain infrastructure.”
Additionally, Circle is exploring potential commercial partnerships with IBM following this acquisition. The company previously received its first patent for parallel blockchain data processing in December 2023 and has joined the LOT Network to protect its products from patent assertion companies.
Details on the specific licensing rights retained by IBM or how many patents are issued in the U.S. have not been disclosed. As a result of this announcement, Circle's stock (CRCL) saw a 2.5% rise in premarket trading.
