Circle plans to bring USDC to about 40 developing economies across Southeast Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East, Chief Executive Jeremy Allaire said in Bangkok during the IMF and World Bank meetings. He described the broader shift as blockchain moving beyond early adopters toward mainstream use. In markets where local currencies are volatile or access to U.S. dollars is limited, USDC can provide a dollar-denominated balance for savings, remittances and payments, but its practical value depends on ways to spend or convert it locally. Circle’s agreed acquisition of Singapore-based cross-border payments platform Tazapay for about $400 million in an all-stock deal, expected to close in 2027, would add payment infrastructure. USDC’s share of stablecoin transaction volume rose from 40% in 2025 to more than 60% in 2026, according to figures cited in the Reuters report. Circle has not announced a country-by-country rollout schedule; local licensing and usable payment and cash-out options will shape the expansion. As of Oct. 17, 2026, Bitcoin was near $81,470, down 0.4% on the day, and the Fear and Greed Index stood at 49.