Circle, a leading issuer of stablecoins, has recently addressed and strongly refuted allegations regarding its involvement in illicit financing and alleged connections with Justin Sun, the founder of Tron. These claims, brought forward by the nonprofit watchdog organization, Campaign for Accountability (CfA), prompted Circle’s Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Public Policy, Dante Disparte, to write a formal response to U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Sherrod Brown.
In the letter, Disparte emphatically denies any involvement of Circle in facilitating or financing activities related to Hamas or any other illicit actors. He highlights Circle’s unwavering commitment to combating illicit financial activities. Circle has been an active partner with regulators and law enforcement in the United States, Israel, and other jurisdictions, ensuring that their stablecoin, USDC, is not used for illicit activities. The company’s dedication to legal compliance was recently acknowledged by the U.S. Secret Service, recognizing Circle’s efforts in identifying fraud and assisting in fund recovery.
Addressing specific allegations, Disparte referred to an incident where the National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing of Israel identified digital wallets linked to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) with assets amounting to $93 million. A report by the blockchain firm Elliptic initially suggested that all assets in these wallets were used to finance PIJ, but this was later corrected. Public blockchain ledgers revealed that of the $93 million, only $160 in USDC was transferred among those wallets, and none of that amount originated from Circle. This example underscores Circle’s stance against the misrepresentation of its role in alleged illicit activities.
Furthermore, Circle clarified its relationship with Justin Sun, stating that it does not provide banking services to him or his associated entities, including the TRON Foundation or Huobi Global. Despite the absence of specific designations by the U.S. government, Circle terminated all accounts associated with Mr. Sun and his affiliated companies in February 2023.
Circle also emphasized its status as a highly regulated financial entity. It operates under the regulatory frameworks of multiple U.S. states and federal bodies, including the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Financial Institutions and the New York Department of Financial Services. As a Money Services Business registered with FinCEN, Circle adheres to the Bank Secrecy Act, anti-money laundering laws, and other regulatory standards. This regulatory compliance is a cornerstone of Circle’s operations, reflecting its commitment to legal and ethical business practices.
In its advocacy for regulatory reforms, Circle has been a vocal proponent for a comprehensive federal framework governing stablecoins. The firm has actively participated in legislative processes, seeking to establish robust reserving, redemption, disclosure, liquidity, and operational risk management standards for stablecoin issuers. Circle’s CEO, Jeremy Allaire, has testified before Congress, advocating for standards that would elevate the safety and reliability of stablecoin issuers.
Circle’s response to the allegations made by the CfA is a strong affirmation of its dedication to regulatory compliance and ethical practices in the digital assets space. The company remains committed to collaborating with regulatory bodies to enhance the regulation of digital asset markets and to combat money laundering and terrorism financing effectively.
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