Circle Snaps Up IBM's Blockchain Patents In Move That Could Reshape Digital Payments
What's happening
Circle acquired IBM's blockchain patent portfolio, buying nearly 1,000 blockchain-related patents (covering more than 680 patent families) from IBM. The company said the expanded IP position makes Circle the largest blockchain patent holder in the United States and will directly support its products, including USDC, Circle Payments Network and Arc. The portfolio spans banking, financial services, insurance, supply chain verification, secure cloud operations and core blockchain infrastructure. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Why it's trending
Because the deal instantly transforms Circle's IP position and ties foundational enterprise blockchain patents to a major stablecoin and payments player.
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Buying IBM's blockchain patents won't just protect Circle, it could lock competitors out of the payments layer, but that's risky for the crypto ecosystem's openness.
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Original sources6
- Circle Acquires IBM’s Blockchain Patent Portfolio
After years of developing blockchain technologies and supporting industry innovations, IBM has sold its blockchain patent portfolio to Circle. Over the better part of a decade, IBM participated in a range of blockchain projects, including the Linux Foundation’s Hyperledger initiative, which later evolved into LF Decentralized Trust. The company also launched platforms such as TradeLens, [
PaymentsJournalJul 28 - Circle Snaps Up IBM's Blockchain Patents In Move That Could Reshape Digital PaymentsCU TodayJul 28
- Circle tops US blockchain patents following IBM acquisition
Circle has become the largest blockchain patent holder in the US by acquiring nearly 1,000 issued patents from IBM‘s portfolio. The company has not provided details around what the specific patents are, but shared that the portfolio includes over 680 patent families spanning foundational blockchain technology, banking, financial services, insurance, enterprise infrastructure, supply chain ve
Payment ExpertJul 28
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