Circle has launched its 2026 developer grants program, backing the first cohort of startups building infrastructure and applications around stablecoins as the firm doubles down on expanding its internet-native financial ecosystem.
The initiative is designed to fund and support early-stage teams integrating USDC and other Circle products into real-world use cases. Grants typically range from $5,000 to $100,000 in USDC, alongside operational support, technical guidance, and potential access to Circle’s venture arm.
Out of the 14 selected startups, 6 are African below:
) Agridex (African)
) Beeezo
) Blockradar (African)
) BuFi
) Cashmere Labs
) DAPL – Digital Asset Platform
) DZap.io
) Flezpay.com
) GCRx
) Hurupay (African)
) Myaza
) OpenVPP
) Payrit (African)
) RebelFi
) SFx Money (African)
) Thurman Labs
) Tides (Neptune Labs)
) TruMarket
) ViFi Labs (African)
2025 RECAP | Africa-Founded Stablecoin Startup, Blockradar, Crosses $300 Million in Transaction Volume With ~100,000 Wallets Created in 2025
The result of the selection process is an incredible cohort that’s already building in places programmable finance needs most, including:
AI-powered financial agents and autonomous commerce
Payments and treasury infrastructure
Capital markets and FX systems
DeFi and liquidity applications
Real-world asset platforms
Several teams are also experimenting with Circle’s emerging blockchain infrastructure, including its Arc network, which is positioned as a settlement layer for real-time financial activity.
Notably, the program is increasingly focused on builders developing AI-powered financial agents, autonomous commerce systems, and cross-border payment solutions, signaling how stablecoins are evolving beyond simple transfers into programmable financial tools.
LIST | Here Are the 5 African Projects Selected in the June 2025 Grants Round by @circle ( $USDC)
Notably, this round marks a milestone for #Africa – with five grantees from the continent, the highest representation yet.https://t.co/BvMw7AkHfw #Stablecoins #Africa pic.twitter.com/Z0NKR8GQMA
— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) June 13, 2025
Circle said its selection process emphasizes
technical execution,
integration with its product stack, and
clear paths to market adoption.
Successful applicants receive hands-on engagement from the company’s ecosystem, product, and business development teams, as well as co-marketing and partnership opportunities to accelerate growth.
The grants come as Circle pushes a broader strategy to scale stablecoin infrastructure globally. The company is advancing Arc from testnet toward production and expanding the reach of USDC and related services across payments, foreign exchange, and enterprise finance.
Industry-wide, stablecoins are increasingly being used to power faster and cheaper cross-border transactions, treasury operations, and on-chain financial applications, particularly in emerging markets where traditional banking rails remain costly and slow.
By backing developers at the application layer, Circle is positioning itself at the center of this shift aiming to turn stablecoins from a trading tool into the backbone of a global, programmable financial system.
FUNDING | $USDC Stablecoin Issuer, Circle, to Invest $20 Million in CV VC African Blockchain Fund to Support Stablecoin Startups
Stay tuned to BitKE on USDC developments in Africa.
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