Circle, OSL Expand USDC Access as Asia Cross-Border Demand Grows

Key Takeaways:

• OSL Group expanded USDC access across trading, payments, and settlement.
• Circle strengthens regulated stablecoin rails for institutional liquidity in Asia.
• Eligible clients gain added utility as OSL deepens USDC-based services.

OSL and Circle Expand USDC Access

Stablecoin infrastructure providers are increasing institutional access to digital dollar liquidity as cross-border settlement demand continues to rise. On April 22, Hong Kong-listed OSL Group (HKEX: 863) and Circle Internet Group (NYSE: CRCL) announced a partnership to expand access to USDC across OSL’s trading and payments ecosystem, supporting conversions, margin usage, and settlement activity.

According to the announcement, OSL Global allows clients to convert USD and USDC on a 1:1 basis and offers a dedicated USDC trading zone with pairs against BTC, ETH, SOL, USD, and USDT. The integration also enables stablecoin-based settlement and payment flows within the platform. OSL Group Chief Commercial Officer Eugene Cheung stated:

“This partnership with Circle underscores OSL Group’s commitment to building a vibrant stablecoin ecosystem, and aligns with our endeavour to build the next generation of financial market infrastructure connecting stablecoins, fiat currencies and other digital assets to enable the seamless exchange of value.”

Stablecoins Push Deeper Into Market Infrastructure

The arrangement provides eligible participants with access to Circle’s USYC, a tokenized money market fund, subject to compliance requirements and platform criteria. OSL also said it uses USDC as a unified margin asset, a structure designed to enhance capital efficiency and trading flexibility.

Outside this partnership, USDC has expanded its reach through collaborations spanning financial institutions and payment networks. The stablecoin is supported by reserves held within regulated U.S. entities, with Blackrock overseeing the Circle Reserve Fund and BNY Mellon handling custody functions. Integrations with Visa and Mastercard place USDC within global payment rails, while agreements with Mercado Pago and Grab extended its reach to users across Latin America and Southeast Asia for everyday financial use.

The partnership reflects a broader shift toward embedding stablecoins within regulated financial infrastructure rather than limiting usage to trading activity. Circle Chief Business Officer Kash Razzaghi added:

“As digital asset markets mature, institutions are looking for trusted, transparent infrastructure to move value globally and in real time. By working with OSL to expand access to USDC across trading and payments, we’re reinforcing a foundation for digital dollar liquidity in Hong Kong and beyond.”

The executive stressed that the collaboration supports capital efficiency, innovation, and long-term market growth.