Circle has introduced the Circle Payments Network, a platform designed to mainstream USDC stablecoin payments by connecting financial institutions through a compliance-first architecture. This network aims to address the inefficiencies of legacy payment rails, which are characterized by slow cross-border transactions, high fees, and lack of transparency. The platform is powered by USDC and EURC stablecoins. Meanwhile, Ripple has reportedly made a $4-5 billion offer to acquire Circle, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin. Circle is also actively partnering with banks to develop a stablecoin-based competitor to the SWIFT payment system. Additionally, Circle has collaborated with Onafriq to reduce cross-border payment costs in Africa using USDC. In the broader stablecoin ecosystem, Stripe has launched stablecoin accounts in 101 countries, and Bridge has introduced USDB, which is expected to have a significant impact on emerging markets.