Circle has rapidly developed, securing $110 million in funding, with a valuation of nearly $3 billion.

Circle recently secured $110 million in Series E funding, reaching a valuation of nearly $3 billion, and plans to issue the USD stablecoin USD-C through the CENTRE project. As a rapidly growing blockchain company, Circle has not only received investment support from renowned institutions but has also made significant achievements in digital currency licensing.

During the 2018 New York Consensus Conference, Circle's CMO Marieke Flament gave an exclusive interview. Marieke has extensive market experience and a background living in Shanghai; she shared her insights on the digital currency market and revealed Circle's development strategy in Asia.

This round of financing was led by the world's largest mining machine manufacturer, with participation from several well-known investment institutions. Circle's CEO Jeremy Allaire stated that this round of financing helps position the company as a true cryptocurrency services enterprise, rather than just a trading platform or payment service startup.

Regarding the relationship with other payment tools, Marieke stated that Circle prefers to view them as partners rather than competitors. She mentioned that Circle Pay operates differently from traditional fiat payment tools and hopes to collaborate with other payment tools in the future, such as integrating with social media through APIs.

Although China has a cautious attitude towards digital currency trading, Marieke believes that the Chinese government does not overlook blockchain technology. She stated that the cooperation process with Chinese investors is relatively smooth, and these investments also contribute to Circle's development in China.

Circle plans to use the new round of financing for team expansion, currently having over 200 employees worldwide, with offices located in multiple countries and regions. The company aims to increase its workforce to 400 this year, focusing on the development of the Asian market.

Circle has positioned Asia as an important battleground for market growth and has chosen Hong Kong as the operational base for its business in Asia. Circle Trade is its first business launched in Asia, providing large-scale digital currency trading services for institutions. Marieke stated that the choice of Circle Trade as the first product in Asia is based on the growing demand for digital currency liquidity and the consideration of avoiding direct competition with major exchanges and payment institutions.

In terms of digital currency regulation, Circle has always been at the forefront. The company became the first to obtain a digital currency license in New York State in 2015, and in 2016 it became the first to obtain an electronic money license in the UK. Marieke emphasized that compliance with regulations is key to sustainable development in the blockchain field.

Circle has an internal legal compliance team that works closely with regulatory agencies to actively carry out anti-fraud and KYC efforts, ensuring business compliance and legality. Marieke believes that the biggest challenge between blockchain projects and regulatory agencies is mutual understanding; therefore, education and dialogue are crucial.

Regarding the news that Nasdaq may launch a cryptocurrency exchange, Marieke stated that having more legitimate participants in the market is a good thing. She also mentioned that Circle acquired a large digital currency exchange for $400 million at the end of February, and this decision was primarily based on cultural fit, strategic alignment, and talent support.