Financial inclusion isn’t a new topic, but Circle is giving it a fresh push with the launch of the Circle Foundation, a philanthropic arm built to help people and businesses who struggle to access basic financial tools.
The move reflects Circle’s long-running belief that technology and digital currency, including its USDC stablecoin, can help create fairer financial systems. Instead of stopping at theory, the company is putting equity on the table through its Pledge 1% commitment to fund the program.
Small businesses will see the first wave of support. They fuel nearly half of America’s private-sector jobs and account for more than 40% of U.S. GDP, yet countless owners face barriers when trying to secure loans or adopt modern financial tools.
Funding access, not barriers
It’s a gap Circle hopes to close by directing grant funding to Community Development Financial Institutions. These mission-driven lenders already serve overlooked communities, and Circle wants to prioritize those with strong technology and data-sharing practices so individual grants have a ripple effect.
The ambition doesn’t end at U.S. borders. Billions worldwide still operate outside formal financial systems. Circle has already tested what digital aid can do. During the war in Ukraine, displaced families received support through USDC faster than traditional aid systems allowed.
In Venezuela, nearly $18 million reached more than 60,000 healthcare workers during the pandemic through similar partnerships. Programs in Nepal, Kenya, and Cambodia have also shown how digital assets can strengthen financial resilience during climate and economic shocks.
Circle employees are being pulled into the mission too, with up to 40 hours of paid volunteering time each year. To ensure accountability, the Circle Foundation is structured as a donor-advised fund with Fidelity, and Circle covers operational costs so funding flows straight to impact. It’s a long-term play with one goal: make financial access something everyone can rely on, not a privilege.
