Circle, a global financial technology company and issuer of USD Coin (USDC) and Euro Coin (EURC), has partnered with Bison Digital Assets (BDA), the cryptocurrency subsidiary of Portugal’s Bison Bank. The partnership aims to provide access to stablecoins that comply with EU Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) regulations.
Circle Merges with Bison Digital Assets for MiCA Compatible Stablecoins
According to a latest report, Circle has integrated its USDC and EURC stablecoins into Bison Digital Asset’s platform. The collaboration ensures that transactions meet the regulations that MiCA has established. These rules will standardize cryptocurrency operations within the EU.
Additionally, USDC and EURC are fully reserved stablecoins backed by liquid cash or cash-equivalent assets. These reserves are held with regulated financial institutions and undergo monthly third-party audits. This ensures that customers can redeem stablecoins for the equivalent value in US dollars or euros, offering both transparency and trust.
The partnership comes notably as the EU’s MiCA and Transfer Regulation (TFR) travel rule comes into effect, which aims to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. Circle’s Head of Policy, Patrick Hansen, clarified misconceptions, highlighting that CASPs must now collect and exchange sender and receiver data for transactions above €1,000. These measures, including encrypted information sharing, improve security and transparency in the crypto space.
Enable secure and regulated blockchain transactions
The partnership allows Bison Digital Assets to leverage Circle’s issuance and redemption platform for deposits, withdrawals and payments. This integration simplifies cross-border blockchain transactions by ensuring they are compatible, cost-effective and secure.
Circle has processed over $19 trillion in transactions since the USDC stablecoin launched in 2018, reflecting its reliability and efficiency. The collaboration enables Bison Digital Asset’s customers to gain access to faster and cheaper financial services.
António Henriques, CEO of Bison Bank, emphasized the transformative potential of stablecoins in financial services.
CEO of Bison Bank emphasized,
“We are delighted to establish this partnership between BDA and Circle, which offers our customers regulated and secure stablecoins. We believe these will play a fundamental role in the future of financial services.”
A milestone in European crypto regulation
Known for being the first Portuguese bank to establish a crypto-focused subsidiary, Bison Digital Assets bridges traditional finance and blockchain technology. The company’s Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) license from the Bank of Portugal further enhances its impact.
Sanja Kon, Circle’s VP of Partnerships and Business Development in Europe emphasized the importance of this collaboration.
Sanja Kon added,
“This collaboration reflects our shared vision to enable the global movement of money in a secure, compliant and internet-enabled way. By integrating USDC and EURC, BDA customers receive robust, seamless and regulated digital payment solutions.”
More so, the partnership comes just days after the stablecoin issuer announced its $1M USDC donation to Donald Trump’s inauguration fund. Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire highlighted the move as evidence of USDC’s growing acceptance, reflecting its role in mainstream financial transactions.
