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PYMNTS· PYMNTS·· 4 hours agoSelectedAI score71

Circle's $13.9 trillion stablecoin paradox: payments increase while profit per dollar declines

Circle’s $13.9 Trillion Stablecoin Paradox: More Payments, Less Profit Per Dollar

AI brief

AI-assisted source summary · not independently verified. Content standards

Circle's third-quarter 2026 results show that USDC processed $13.9 trillion in on-chain transactions, up 49% year over year, while its circulating supply was roughly $73.9 billion, essentially flat, and reserve income fell 8% to $658 million.

Why it matters

The article brings together transaction volume growth, declining reserve income, and distribution revenue sharing to show the business trade-offs stablecoin issuers face as they shift from earning returns on balances to payment networks and corporate treasury use cases.

Source:PYMNTS · pymnts.com