Circle Partners with INFINIOS to Expand Middle East Digital Finance Infrastructure

Circle, the global financial technology firm and issuer of the USDC stablecoin, has entered into a strategic partnership with INFINIOS, a Bahrain-based digital payment and banking technology provider. The collaboration aims to integrate Circle’s digital asset infrastructure with INFINIOS’s licensed payment platform to improve liquidity and cross-border settlement capabilities across the Middle East. Integration of USDC for Regional Settlements The partnership focuses on leveraging USDC, a digital dollar pegged 1:1 to the U.S. dollar, to streamline business-to-business (B2B) transactions. INFINIOS, which is regulated by the Central Bank of Bahrain, provides the underlying technology for digital banking and card issuing. By incorporating Circle’s infrastructure, the firm intends to offer regional corporate clients faster settlement times compared to traditional correspondent banking networks. According to the terms of the agreement, the two entities will develop technical frameworks to allow seamless conversion between fiat currency and digital assets. This move targets the growing demand for transparent and near-instant payment rails in a region where cross-border trade remains a…