A multi-year partnership will pay local vendors in USDC, train creators in financial skills, and fund charities through a new award program

Tue 10 Nov 2026 · 08:24 EST · 2 min read

In Stablecoins

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Circle is taking USDC on tour. The stablecoin issuer has signed a multi-year partnership with Global Citizen to expand economic opportunity across Africa, starting with the Move Afrika concert series.

The plan is simple on paper. Local vendors and suppliers working Move Afrika events will be able to get paid in USDC, with the first concerts under the new setup slated for Rwanda in 2027.

What the deal actually covers

The partnership, announced in New York on November 10, 2026, has three main parts. First, USDC payments get built into Move Afrika. Second, the two organizations will work on building financial skills among local businesses and creators. Third, they plan to explore new ways to mobilize funding and reward civic action.

The payments piece is the most concrete. Circle and Global Citizen say USDC will let vendors and suppliers receive money faster, at lower transaction costs, and with better access to global commerce.

There is also a charitable element. The partners are launching the Global Citizen & Circle Impact Champions Award, which will use USDC funding to support charitable organizations selected by participating artists and leaders.

Circle Internet Group trades on the NYSE under the ticker CRCL and issues USDC through its regulated entities. Global Citizen describes itself as the world’s largest movement to end extreme poverty.

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Why Move Afrika is the testing ground

Move Afrika is a joint initiative from Global Citizen and pgLang. Since its launch in 2023, the series has focused on hiring locally and sourcing from local suppliers, an approach that has generated thousands of job opportunities.

Circle’s broader Africa push

This deal does not stand alone. It extends a run of Africa-focused moves Circle has made throughout 2026.

In March 2026, Circle struck a partnership with Sasai Fintech. In July 2026, it followed with a deal involving Flutterwave, which included an investment in the payments company.

On November 3, 2026, just a week before the Global Citizen announcement, Circle appointed Gillian Darko as VP, Head of Africa.

The scale of USDC itself gives context for the ambition. Average USDC circulation reached $73.3 billion in Q3 2026, according to Circle’s reported figures.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Kaye Quema. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.