[Circle Acquires Nearly 1,000 Blockchain Patents from IBM, Market Concerns Over Potential Litigation and Patent Trolling] According to Fortune, stablecoin issuer Circle announced the acquisition of nearly 1,000 blockchain-related patents from IBM. While the official statement claims this move will strengthen its financial infrastructure strategy, critics have pointed out that IBM's blockchain business ventures have largely failed, raising questions about the actual value of these patents. What worries the industry even more is the possibility that Circle might use this patent portfolio to launch litigation offensives or impose licensing fees, further squeezing the survival space for startups. Some also fear that these patents could eventually fall into the hands of patent trolls.