Circle Internet Financial has marked five years since launching its over-the-counter (OTC) trading operations, which originated from a simple consumer app introduced in 2014 that allowed users to purchase bitcoin using credit or debit cards. Starting as a beta application, it quickly gained popularity, leading to the creation of Circle Trade, one of the largest OTC desks in the crypto industry, handling $24 billion in notional volume in 2018 alone. The service initially focused on bitcoin transactions but expanded to include Ethereum and other cryptocurrencies as the market grew, particularly during the 2016 bitcoin halving and the Ethereum ICO boom. By 2017, Circle Trade had grown significantly, establishing a global presence and building a reputation for integrity, trading with over 1,000 counterparties across 36 crypto assets. Despite a market slowdown in 2018 and 2019, Circle Trade remains optimistic about the future, with increasing awareness and institutional interest in cryptocurrencies, positioning itself for ongoing growth as innovation continues in the space.