Circle buys nearly 1,000 blockchain patents from IBM

Finance Circle buys nearly 1,000 blockchain patents from IBM The portfolio covers blockchain technology, banking, insurance, and cloud security, though the financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. By Francisco Rodrigues | Edited by Stephen Alpher Jul 27, 2026, 12:47 p.m. 1 min read Make preferred on Share Share this article Copy link X icon X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook Email Make preferred on Summary Show Circle acquired nearly 1,000 blockchain-anchored patents from IBM, becoming the largest holder of such patents in the United States. The portfolio covers blockchain technology, banking, insurance, and cloud security, though the financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Circle plans to use these patents to support USDC, its Arc blockchain, and financial tools for AI agents, while exploring future IBM partnerships. Stablecoin issuer Circle (CRCL) has acquired nearly 1,000 issued blockchain-anchored patents from IBM, a deal the firm said makes it the largest holder of blockchain patents in the United States. The portfolio spans more than 680 patent families covering blockchain technology, banking, financial services, insurance, enterprise infrastructure, supply-chain verification and cloud security, according to a press release . The deal’s financial terms weren’t disclosed. IBM was already among the largest U.S. blockchain patent holders before the sale. A December 2025 analysis by patent analytics firm PatSnap credited it with 790 patents, alongside Advanced New Technologies and Bank of America. Circle said the portfolio would support USDC, Circle Payments Network, its Arc blockchain and financial tools designed for AI agents. Circle and IBM also plan to explore further commercial opportunities, the document adds. “Intellectual property is critical to advancing our mission and expanding adoption of onchain infrastructure,” said Sarah Wilson, Circle’s general counsel and corporate secretary. Circle received its first patent , covering parallel blockchain data processing, in December 2023. It had earlier joined the LOT Network to protect its products from patent-assertion firms. The company did not disclose how many acquired patents were issued in the U.S., whether IBM retained licensing rights or whether it plans to license or enforce the portfolio. CoinDesk has reached out to Circle for comment but hasn’t heard back at the time of writing. CRCL shares are up 2.5% in premarket trading. Circle Latest Crypto News 1 Michael Saylor's Strategy boosted cash reserve to $3.75 billion, repurchased $25 million of STRC 35 minutes ago 2 Bitcoin options traders are dropping their hedges going into the Fed meeting 54 minutes ago 3 Ballooning U.S. debt sends investors to bitcoin, gold to shelter from dollar devaluation 1 hour ago 4 Bitcoin ETFs post third straight weekly inflows despite $465 million in late-week losses 1 hour ago 5 Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong criticizes crypto startups that rebrand to AI 2 hours ago 6 Crypto steadies as Iran-U.S. pause sends oil tumbling, lifts risk assets 2 hours ago 7 Interest rates in U.S., U.K., Japan and Coinbase, Strategy earnings: Crypto Week Ahead 3 hours ago 8 Cloud data firm Storj files for Chapter 11, extending a week of crypto failures. Token slides 16% 3 hours ago 9 Live updates: Bitcoin rises above $65,000 as oil tumbles on Iran war cooldown 6 hours ago 10 Crypto is the canary in the coal mine for the quantum computing threat, experts say 6 hours ago Latest Research Crypto Flows, Share and the Selective Rotation Crypto Flows, Share and the Selective Rotation Markets repositioned since June, but Binance held share (~55% user funds, ~24% spot) and drew net inflows in early July while the tracked market saw outflows. By CoinDesk Research Jul 22, 2026 Markets repositioned since June, but Binance held share (~55% user funds, ~24% spot) and drew net inflows in early July while the tracked market saw outflows. Why it matters : Markets repositioned since June, but Binance held share (~55% user funds, ~24% spot) and drew net inflows in early July while the tracked market saw outflows. View Full Report More From Finance Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong criticizes crypto startups that rebrand to AI Cloud data firm Storj files for Chapter 11, extending a week of crypto failures. Token slides 16% South Korea trading giant puts receivables onchain in tokenization test with LG CNS