Bitcoin Forum

Today we announced a major step forward in the execution of our vision and product strategy. We've closed a new $50 million strategic investment round co-led by Goldman Sachs and IDG Capital Partners.

And for the first time, we're giving Circle customers the ability to hold, send, and receive US dollars as well as bitcoin -- instantly, securely, and with no fees. In addition to sending and receiving dollars, customers can also enjoy the benefits of the Bitcoin network without the risk of price volatility.

IDG Capital Partners likewise brings a strategic capability to Circle as we bring our products and services to China. We believe in a hybrid digital economy in which value moves freely around the world and converts into other currencies -- including both crypto and fiat currencies -- seamlessly, safely, and instantly. People will transact and trade both locally and across the globe more freely and more securely than has ever before been possible. And that means growing our platform to include important economies and currencies such as US Dollars and Chinese Yuan.

We’re also introducing new US dollar features that enable customers to hold, send, and receive dollars. Customers with dollar accounts gain all of the benefits of digital currency -- instant, secure and free payments to anyone in the world -- without holding or explicitly converting dollars into bitcoins. Dollar account balances held by Circle customers are FDIC-insured.

Circle’s robust support for Bitcoin also gets even better. If customers choose to hold dollars instead of bitcoin balances, they can still pay any person or merchant who accepts payment in bitcoin, without ever holding bitcoin themselves. Circle will handle instant conversion from dollars into bitcoin at the time of the payment. The reverse is also true: customers can accept bitcoin and expect Circle to convert it instantly into dollars in their Circle accounts. This gives customers the benefits of bitcoin payments without the risk of price volatility.

Will this help with mainstream adoption? Allow people to use bitcoin and accept bitcoin without having to own or hold bitcoin.

Coinbase to the UK. Circle to China. Nasdaq Stockholm to trade a Bitcoin ETN. Things are getting serious.

It's not even about that.  It's about having a choice.  It's good that there's a service that allows you to choose.  Bitcoin is known for its volatility, so Circle gives their customers a choice to avoid that.

If the features only purpose was to provide a choice between BTC and USD then what's the difference than just using an exchange, except that it's FDIC insured? I think that Circle is trying to pull in more users by letting them spend bitcoin and receive it without having to hold bitcoin due to it's volatility.

Again, choice.  Anyone can choose to hold BTC if they want.  And to speculate, it won't stop there.  Yuan could be the next available currency then hopefully more.

I must be missing something, I don't see why having the ability to hold USD, BTC and CNY in one place is a big deal when it's do-able already with exchanges. I'm not trying to irritate you, just trying to understand your point of view on this. So then basically they will be a US based, BTC-e with smartphone apps and a better UI?

Basically, but your account is insured.  That's the main thing I'm excited about because other exchanges and services will follow too.  It's like Circle is setting the bar up for everyone else to become better.

Edit: And Circle is taking being a Bitcoin financial service more seriously.  Seeing that Goldman Sachs lead a 50m USD funding round kinda validates that.  It's not like the other exchanges where they get hacked and some of them close.  The latest with Bitstamp...  The industry is becoming somewhat of a joke because of it.  Services like Circle could change that.

I don't think circle gonna help increase the bitcoin adoption. Just one more payment processor company is showing up. It apparently will help merchants to dump bitcoin payment.

I don't think circle gonna help increase the bitcoin adoption. Just one more payment processor company is showing up. It apparently will help merchants to dump bitcoin payment.

You'd rather Circle not operate?

I loooove their website https://www.circle.com/en

Is this bootstrap + angular?

Will this help with mainstream adoption? Allow people to use bitcoin and accept bitcoin without having to own or hold bitcoin.

Coinbase to the UK. Circle to China. Nasdaq Stockholm to trade a Bitcoin ETN. Things are getting serious.

Are there any people who actually use Circle ???
I rarely see any thread / news about Circle, is it because Circle still a new company ?

I hope this time they really can increase bitcoin adaption

I use circle all the time. They are my goto for buying BTC since mid last year since there is no 4 day wait like coinbase. I don't store any BTC there though. I transfer to my own address(es) right after purchase.

Does Circle disallow transfers to gambling sites?