Circle CEO: Where is the biggest opportunity for USDC in global payments? On August 19, 2026, Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire (@jerallaire) mentioned during the earnings call AMA that over 99% of AI agent payments conducted via proxy payment protocols are completed using USDC. He emphasized that AI agents, existing in the cloud, execute tasks with high certainty and are heavily reliant on a reliable, widely recognized currency that enables ultra-low-cost, rapid settlement. Additionally, USDC's applications in cross-border settlements, capital markets, and retail payments are experiencing strong growth, while offline settlement methods are rapidly transitioning to new instant payment models like QR codes. Source: Circle