US-based stablecoin issuer Circle said on July 27 that it acquired nearly 1,000 blockchain-related patents from IBM for an undisclosed amount, a move it said makes it the largest holder of blockchain patents in the US.

Circle said the portfolio spans more than 680 patent families covering blockchain technology, banking, financial services, insurance, enterprise infrastructure, supply-chain verification, and cloud security.

The company said the patents will support USDC, Circle Payments Network, its Arc blockchain, and financial tools for AI agents.

Circle did not disclose how many of the acquired patents were issued in the US, whether IBM kept licensing rights, or whether Circle plans to license or enforce the portfolio.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office describes how assignments are recorded, but the reviewed materials did not confirm which patents were transferred.

The reviewed materials did not independently verify Circle’s claim that the deal makes it the largest US holder of blockchain patents, though IBM had previously been cited as among the country’s largest holders.

Circle and IBM also said they plan to explore other business opportunities.

🔗 Source: CoinDesk