Circle Signs Agreement to Acquire Interop Labs Team & Intellectual Property

Circle Internet Financial has announced its intention to acquire key talent and technology from Interop Labs, a significant contributor to the Axelar Network, to enhance its crosschain infrastructure strategy. This acquisition aims to further Circle's vision of seamless interoperability across over 100 blockchain ecosystems by integrating Interop Labs' expertise directly into Circle, particularly benefiting initiatives like Arc, an open L1 blockchain, and Circle's Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol (CCTP). The transaction, expected to close in early 2026, will not affect the independent operation of the Axelar Network, Foundation, and the AXL token, which will continue under community governance. The move is part of Circle's broader strategy to create an open, connected, and scalable onchain economy, with the Interop Labs team set to transition into Circle, while Common Prefix takes over Interop Labs' activities in the Axelar project. This strategic acquisition underscores Circle's commitment to advancing blockchain connectivity and interoperability, aligning with its existing blockchain infrastructure products, including USDC and Gateway.