Circle Internet Group, the issuer of the stablecoin USDC, has launched the Circle Payments Network (CPN), a new global payments and cross-border remittance platform designed to connect financial institutions, banks, fintech companies, payment service providers, and digital wallets. The network aims to offer a real-time, low-cost alternative to traditional payment systems like Visa and Mastercard by enabling 24/7 settlement of cross-border transactions using regulated stablecoins such as USDC and EURC. Scheduled for launch in May 2025, CPN is designed to streamline global money movement by providing modular, programmable, and extensible on-chain infrastructure. Major banks including Banco Santander, Deutsche Bank, Société Générale, and Standard Chartered are among the participants involved in the network’s design. Over 20 partners, including WorldRemit, Yellow Card, and Fireblocks, support the platform, which targets use cases such as remittances, payroll, and treasury operations. Circle emphasizes that the network will reduce costs and delays associated with existing cross-border payments and enable seamless fiat-to-fiat settlements through stablecoins without requiring rebuilds or new providers.