Circle Internet Financial has acquired Gateway DAO, Inc., an onchain privacy protocol, to enhance its stablecoin-based payment infrastructure and commitment to privacy in onchain finance. The acquisition includes Gateway's team, known for their expertise in cryptography, secure computation, and decentralized systems, and their pioneering work in privacy-first applications across various fields such as payments, DeFi, identity, and AI. By integrating Gateway's encrypted computing technology, Circle aims to advance compliant, confidential, and programmable money experiences through USDC, making private, verifiable, and scalable stablecoin transactions feasible. This move underscores Circle's dedication to transforming onchain financial applications and increasing economic opportunities globally.