USDC Stablecoin Issuer Circle Adds Apple Pay Support
- Crypto-native businesses can now accept payments from customers who don’t use cryptocurrencies.
- Circle’s recent development is part of its ongoing efforts to build a dynamic payment system.
- Due to its financial exposure to FTX, Circle is among those firms suffering from the recent cryptocurrency crisis.
Circle, the firm behind the second largest stablecoin, USDC, now supports Apple Pay, aiming to integrate crypto and traditional payments.
As we strive to bring more people into Web3 and native dollar digital currency (USDC), excited to launch this new on ramp API for developers to connect Apple Pay to USDC settlement. https://t.co/HpkOwynpFe
— Jeremy Allaire (@jerallaire) November 15, 2022
As revealed, cryptocurrency-oriented platforms like NFT marketplaces, cryptocurrency exchanges, cryptocurrency wallets, games, and cross-broader payment processors can benefit from the initiative. Further, Circle and Apple Pay’s innovation will enable businesses to embrace a more flexible payment structure by incorporating virtual currency into retail payments.
The development comes in two dimensions, the first aids businesses in using USDC as a means of payment. The other side of it allows users of Apple Pay to buy virtual currency from their preferred cryptocurrency exchange using USDC.
Numerous Attempts to Advance Payment and Use of USDC
The recent development is part of a broader effort by Circle to build a dynamic payment system. Last month, Circle incorporated merchant support for Bitcoin and Ethereum. In the announcement, the firm said:
“In addition to USDC, we are also building an open merchant payment platform atop stablecoin infrastructure, facilitating seamless, efficient, frictionless, and delightful transactions between merchants and their consumers.”
Furthermore, in June, Circle ventured into the Polygon blockchain to beat the cost of transactions and enhance the processing of payments on its platform. The move intended to assist developers in automating the flow from traditional currencies to Polygon USDC. This will aid them in swapping Polygon USDC for the native USDC on different blockchains.
Circle’s Financial Exposure to FTX
Circle is currently suffering from FTX’s recent crisis as a result of its financial exposure to the cryptocurrency exchange. According to sources, Circle invested about $10.6 million into FTX; the reports emanated after the CEO of Circle, Jeremy Allaire, revealed that Circle is a “tiny” equity holder of FTX.
5/ Circle is a tiny equity holder of FTX, and FTX is a tiny equity holder of Circle. Circle is also a tiny equity holder of Kraken, Coinbase and BinanceUS.
— Jeremy Allaire (@jerallaire) November 9, 2022
There are fears among holders of USDC that Circle’s investments in FTX could negatively impact it and therefore intensify the growing pressure around the issuer of USDC. Before now, Circle has enjoyed a less turbulent business atmosphere than its rival, USDT, has endured in the past.
On the Flipside
- Even though Circle is showing efforts to expand its payment infrastructure worldwide, it is still unclear how its exposure to FTX will affect it.
Why You Should Care
Apple Pay is supported worldwide by 5,480 banks and 507 million mobile wallets. Due to the recent integration, crypto payments could become more mainstream around the world.
Read more: https://dailycoin.com/circle-usdt-adds-apple-pay-support/
Text source: DailyCoin.com
