Nium & Circle link USDC to payouts in 190 countries

Nium has partnered with Circle to connect USDC settlement with global payout services, giving financial institutions access to payouts in more than 190 countries.

Under the arrangement, Nium will join Circle Payments Network as a global payout partner. Institutions on the network will be able to send payments through Circle's system and use Nium's payout infrastructure across 100 currencies. The setup is designed to connect stablecoin settlement with local payment endpoints, including bank accounts, wallets and cards.

The partnership reflects a broader push by payments firms to move stablecoins beyond trading and treasury functions into everyday cross-border transactions. Circle provides the USDC-based settlement layer, while Nium handles foreign exchange conversion, routing and final delivery.

For financial institutions, a key selling point is avoiding the need to build and manage multiple local payout connections. Users of Circle Payments Network will be able to access Nium's country and currency coverage through a single integration, rather than maintain fragmented provider relationships across different corridors.

Nium also said the arrangement could reduce the need for prefunding, a long-standing issue in international payments in which firms keep money parked in multiple markets to support faster settlement. By combining stablecoin settlement with local payout rails, the companies aim to shorten the path from payment initiation to delivery.

Another element is transaction visibility. Payments routed through the network can be tracked in real time using on-chain records, giving institutions more transparency over the movement of funds.

Network reach

Circle said its payments network has reached USD $8.3 billion in annualised transaction volume, based on trailing 30-day activity measured at the end of March. The figure points to growing use of USDC in institutional payment flows, particularly as financial firms seek alternatives to slower, more fragmented cross-border systems.

Nium operates a cross-border payments network that supports payouts in more than 190 countries and 100 currencies, with more than 100 markets offering real-time payment options. It also collects funds locally in 40 markets and holds regulatory licences and authorisations in more than 40 countries.

Circle Technology Services, an affiliate of Circle Internet Group, operates Circle Payments Network. The network connects participating financial institutions so they can communicate securely and settle directly with one another, while Circle Technology Services provides the technology for access and integration.

The tie-up comes as banks, fintechs and multinational businesses test whether regulated stablecoins can lower costs and improve speed in international transfers. A central hurdle has been the gap between digital-asset settlement and cash delivery in local markets, especially when the receiving side still depends on domestic banking or consumer payment rails.

Nium and Circle say they are trying to close that gap. Rather than using USDC only as an intermediate asset, they are positioning it as part of a full payment chain that starts with settlement and ends with funds arriving in local currency.

Prajit Nanu, Founder and CEO of Nium, said the partnership is intended to address that shift in infrastructure needs.

"Traditional and onchain payment rails are converging, and that convergence demands infrastructure that banks, fintechs, and global enterprises can rely on at scale," said Prajit Nanu, Founder and CEO, Nium. "By partnering with Circle and joining CPN, we are combining Circle's regulated settlement instrument with Nium's global payout reach to deliver a more seamless way for institutions to move money worldwide."

Circle framed the deal as part of a broader effort to turn USDC into a practical payment tool for institutions rather than a settlement asset used in isolation.

"Financial institutions are increasingly looking for ways to use stablecoins to solve persistent payments pain points," said Kash Razzaghi, Chief Commercial Officer, Circle. "Through our partnership with Nium and their integration into Circle Payments Network, we are extending USDC from a settlement instrument into a complete payments flow, helping institutions move money globally with greater speed, transparency, and capital efficiency."