Circle Brings USDC Settlement to Colombia Banking System

Circle and ACI Worldwide Team Up in Latin America

Circle, the creator of the popular USDCUSDC-0.15% stablecoin, is taking a major step into Latin America. The company announced a collaboration with payments-technology firm ACI Worldwide to integrate USDC settlement directly into existing banking infrastructure.

The joint initiative begins with a pilot program in Colombia. By linking USDC to traditional banking networks, the two companies aim to show financial institutions how stablecoins can work alongside existing payment rails rather than replacing them.

The partnership pairs Circle's digital dollar infrastructure with ACI Connetic, a cloud-based platform that orchestrates complex payment flows. This enables banks to experiment with digital asset settlement using trusted operational setups.

How the Colombia Pilot Operates

The initial project focuses on Colombia, where ACI built the core architecture for Bre-B, the national instant-payments network. Bre-B allows individuals and businesses to transfer funds between different bank accounts in real time.

The pilot tests how a regulated stablecoin like USDC can plug directly into this account-to-account network. Together, Circle and ACI are building a multi-rail ecosystem where traditional fiat currency and digital assets move seamlessly across the same channels.

• Integrating digital dollars into existing real-time domestic payment rails.
• Allowing banks to manage treasury and settlement within familiar systems.
• Creating flexible payment options for both international remittances and local transactions.

Shifting from Possibility to Practicality

This collaboration reflects a broader shift in how mainstream financial institutions view stablecoins. Instead of discussing theoretical benefits, banks want practical solutions that fit into their existing risk management, governance, and daily treasury workflows.

The conversation around stablecoins is moving from possibility to practicality.

Craig Ramsey, global head of account-to-account payments at ACI Worldwide, noted that the initiative helps integrate regulated stablecoins into processes banks already trust. He explained that banks want clear methods for connecting digital assets to established infrastructure.

Kash Razzaghi, chief commercial officer at Circle, added that Latin American financial institutions are actively seeking ways to modernize payments using their current setups. He described USDC as a key bridge connecting traditional finance with the modern digital economy.

Why Colombia Is a Strategic Target

Colombia represents a logical expansion point for digital dollar payments. The country handles large volumes of cross-border remittances, making fast and affordable international transfers vital for many families.

Additionally, many residents in the region are accustomed to using dollar-denominated assets to hedge against local currency inflation. Integrating stablecoins into trusted banking tools provides familiar options for saving and transacting.

This pilot builds on Circle's ongoing expansion into emerging markets worldwide. The company previously gained a strong footprint in Latin America when e-commerce giant Mercado Pago integrated USDC for its users in Argentina.

A Flexible Approach to Global Finance

The initiative is designed to be technology-agnostic. While the current trial relies on USDC, ACI's Connetic platform can support other payment networks and digital asset providers over time.

For Circle, the deal marks another milestone in embedding USDC into global financial plumbing. By integrating with fast-growing systems like Bre-B, the company continues to connect traditional banking with blockchain settlement.

While digital assets offer new ways to handle global payments, market conditions can shift rapidly. Past performance of digital assets is not a guarantee of future performance. Readers interested in tracking asset details can view real-time market data on the Bitkub USDC Market.