Binance has purchased $100 million worth of Circle shares as both organizations entered into a five-year agreement that compensates the digital asset exchange for advertising the USDC stablecoin across its trading platform.
As detailed in an SEC filing published Tuesday, Circle provided Binance with 1.24 million Class A shares priced at $80.84 per share through a private placement that concluded on September 17. The organization noted that this price represented a discount compared to Circle’s valuation prior to the transaction.
Subject to customary exemptions, Binance is prohibited from transferring, hedging, or selling the equities until the sooner of a two-year period or the potential termination of the commercial agreements under specific conditions by Binance, though it keeps voting privileges for these shares.
This equity acquisition occurred concurrently with an extension of the existing USDC alliance between the two firms. Circle agreed to provide Binance with a monthly reward fee determined as a percentage of USDC balances maintained through the Modular Smart Contract Wallet service of Circle, while Binance committed to executing promotional campaigns for the stablecoin.
Richard Teng, Binance’s co-CEO, expressed in an email to CoinDesk that their $100 million investment and five-year pledge demonstrate long-term dedication. He stated that they are helping construct a more transparent, compliant, and inclusive digital economy, noting that a reliable and dependable digital dollar should not be a luxury but accessible to anyone possessing a phone, which is the future this collaboration aims to bring about.
This new pact supersedes the previous USDC agreements that Circle and Binance established in November 2024 and August 2025. Additionally, either entity possesses the option to terminate the five-year partnership early if particular conditions take place.
Because the shares were distributed via an unregistered private placement, Binance’s capacity to resell them is restricted unless registration occurs or an appropriate exemption applies. The associated commercial contracts were executed by Circle’s subsidiaries, with the share transaction finalizing immediately afterward.
Jeremy Allaire, Circle’s co-founder, chairman, and CEO, remarked regarding the $100 million investment that the alliance could assist in broadening global access to dollar-centric financial services.
Allaire stated that Binance has developed one of the globe’s most expansive and active platforms for utilizing digital currency, establishing the internet’s premier financial super app and evolving into the most heavily adopted wallet for dollar stablecoins.
He further noted that together they perceive remarkable prospects to utilize USDC for widening dollar accessibility, backing savings and investment via innovative digital asset offerings, and engaging individuals and enterprises across international emerging markets.
Originally published at https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2026/09/22/binance-buys-usd100-million-circle-stake-in-five-year-usdc-promotion-deal.
