Stablecoin issuer Circle and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) are collaborating to explore stablecoin integration

Stablecoin issuer Circle and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the company that operates the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) among others and provides

Stablecoin issuer Circle and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the company that operates the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and provides clearinghouse services, are collaborating to explore integrating stablecoins into ICE’s operations.

The companies will explore the potential integration of Circle’s US dollar (USD) stablecoin (USDC) and its US Yield Coin (USYC) into ICE’s derivatives exchanges, clearinghouses, data services and other systems, according to a memorandum of understanding (MoU) announced March 27.

The potential integration of stablecoins and real-world tokenized products into exchange settlement systems follows Nasdaq announcing 24-hour weekday trading starting in 2026 and the New York Stock Exchange’s plan to extend trading hours during the week as traditional financial markets shift toward a more global orientation.

Stablecoin market breakdown by top issuers. Source: RWA.XYZ

Related: ‘Stablecoin multiverse’ begins: Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino

The integration could involve using USDC or USYC for settling trades, providing new data feeds or developing innovative financial products.

“This collaboration has the potential to introduce new efficiencies and capabilities to the financial ecosystem by combining ICE’s market infrastructure and technology with Circle’s digital currency innovations,” said Jeremy Allaire, CEO and co-founder of Circle.

The partnership also aims to identify opportunities to integrate tokenized versions of real-world assets, such as equities or fixed income securities, into ICE’s offerings.

“We are interested in exploring how innovations in digital assets, such as stablecoins, could be integrated into ICE’s ecosystem of financial markets, clearing houses, and data services,” said Ben M. Lines, president of ICE Derivatives and the New York Stock Exchange.

The cooperation between Circle and ICE marks a significant step in bridging the gap between traditional finance and the emerging crypto industry.