Binance invests $100M in Circle, launches USDC partnership
6.6 Investments Binance invested $100M in Circle, acquiring 1.24M shares with a two-year lockup. The five-year deal includes USDC promotion and monthly incentive fees from Circle to Binance.
Binance has invested $100 million in Circle, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, through a private placement completed on September 17, 2026. Circle issued 1,237,011 Class A shares to Binance at $80.84 per share, which was below Circle’s market value at the time. Binance is restricted from selling, transferring, or hedging these shares for two years, but retains full voting rights. This investment is paired with a new five-year commercial agreement. Under this deal, Circle will pay Binance monthly incentive fees based on the amount of USDC held via Circle’s Modular Smart Contract Wallet infrastructure. In return, Binance will actively promote USDC across its platform. The new arrangement replaces previous agreements from November 2024 and August 2025. Both parties can terminate the agreement early under certain conditions. The partnership is designed to expand USDC’s reach, with Binance committed to promotional activities and maintaining significant USDC balances.
