Circle Internet Financial's submission to the U.S. Department of Commerce highlights its advocacy for robust competition and regulatory clarity in the digital asset economy. Circle emphasizes the role of private sector blockchain-based payments in fostering competition and innovation, underscoring the need for the U.S. to lead global regulatory frameworks to support responsible digital asset innovation. The company distinguishes between privately-issued digital currencies and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), advocating for a rules-based, free-market approach to digital currency issuance that maintains financial integrity while promoting innovation and inclusion. Circle also highlights how digital assets can enhance financial inclusion by providing lower-cost, faster, and more accessible financial services, with initiatives like partnerships that convert physical currency to digital forms without a bank account, and the potential for blockchain technology to facilitate transparent, corruption-resistant cross-border payments.