Circle sent 63% of Q4 USDC reserve income to distributors, compressing margins.
Summary
- Circle generated $733.4m in Q4 reserve income and paid $460.6m in distribution and transaction costs, leaving $272.8m net reserve income before operating expenses.
- USDC circulation hit $75.3b, up 72% YoY, with average USDC outstanding doubling to $76.2b and a 3.8% reserve return, down 68 bps YoY.
- “USDC on Platform” reached $12.5b, up 459% YoY, with a 17.8% daily weighted share of total supply, concentrating economics around a few key distributors.
Circle Internet Financial reported fourth quarter earnings showing the stablecoin issuer paid $460.6 million in distribution and transaction costs against $733.4 million in reserve income, representing approximately 63% of gross yield generated from customer deposits.
The company’s USDC stablecoin circulation reached $75.3 billion at year-end, up 72% year-over-year, according to the earnings report. Reserve income increased 69% while adjusted EBITDA grew fivefold compared to the prior year period.
Total revenue and reserve income reached $770.2 million for the quarter, with distribution costs accounting for nearly 60% of earnings, according to the financial statements. Circle retained $272.8 million in net reserve income after distribution payments.
The company publishes “Revenue Less Distribution Costs” as a core performance metric each quarter. Circle’s net reserve margin settled at 37% in the fourth quarter, meaning the issuer retained approximately $0.37 for every dollar of gross reserve yield.
Stablecoin issuers generate income by holding user deposits in reserve portfolios consisting primarily of short-term Treasury securities and similar instruments. Circle reported a 3.8% reserve return rate in the fourth quarter, down 68 basis points year-over-year. Average USDC in circulation doubled from $38.1 billion to $76.2 billion during the period.
Distribution costs rose 52% year-over-year, according to the earnings report. Circle attributed the increase to “increased distribution payments” to exchanges, wallets, and fintech platforms that provide user access. The prior-year period included a $60 million one-time fee to a distribution partner, previously disclosed.
Circle’s five-quarter trend data shows distributors consistently claimed approximately 63% of reserve income each quarter. Distribution payments are tied to placement agreements and transaction flows rather than fixed technology costs.
The company’s risk disclosures state it may be “unable to maintain existing relationships with financial institutions and similar firms or enter into new relationships.” Circle flags potential pressure to accept “less favorable financial terms” with distribution partners and highlights “dependence on a few key distributors” as a structural constraint.
Circle tracks a metric called “USDC on Platform,” measuring the share of total USDC held across partner platforms. That figure reached $12.5 billion at year-end, up 459% year-over-year, with a daily weighted average of 17.8% of total circulation, according to company data.
Treasury bill yields remained in the mid-3% range as of late February 2026. Market expectations contemplate potential Federal Reserve rate cuts in coming quarters, according to financial market data. A declining rate environment would compress reserve income while distribution costs may prove less flexible, potentially pressuring issuer margins.
Circle’s guidance reflects margin compression relative to the fourth quarter’s 40% RLDC margin, according to the company’s forward-looking statements. The guidance indicates distribution costs may not decline proportionally to reserve income in a lower-rate environment.
In most stablecoin implementations, users do not directly receive yield on their holdings. Issuers earn reserve income and negotiate distribution agreements with platforms that control user access. Distributors do not bear balance sheet risk associated with reserves.
The GENIUS Act, referenced in Circle’s regulatory disclosures, establishes a U.S. framework for payment stablecoins. The legislation formalizes regulatory requirements for stablecoin issuers.
Circle’s operational risk disclosures focus on distributor relationships rather than traditional liquidity concerns. The company states that major partners could change incentive structures, promote competing stablecoins, or develop proprietary infrastructure. Such shifts could reallocate transaction flows and distribution economics.
Circle’s reserves are liquid, audited, and managed conservatively, according to company disclosures. The balance sheet is structured to withstand redemption surges.
The company’s “USDC on Platform” metric monitors concentration of balances across distribution partners. Higher concentration on specific platforms affects negotiating leverage in distribution agreements.
Market dynamics in the stablecoin sector increasingly focus on securing and maintaining distribution relationships with platforms that control user access. Issuers compete for placement on exchanges, wallets, and payment rails that determine transaction flows.
Circle’s fourth quarter results showed the company generated $733.4 million in reserve income and allocated $460.6 million to distribution and transaction costs, leaving $272.8 million in net reserve income before operating expenses.
Circle Internet Financial reported fourth quarter earnings showing the stablecoin issuer paid $460.6 million in distribution and transaction costs against $733.4 million in reserve income, representing approximately 63% of gross yield generated from customer deposits.
The company’s USDC stablecoin circulation reached $75.3 billion at year-end, up 72% year-over-year, according to the earnings report. Reserve income increased 69% while adjusted EBITDA grew fivefold compared to the prior year period.
Total revenue and reserve income reached $770.2 million for the quarter, with distribution costs accounting for nearly 60% of earnings, according to the financial statements. Circle retained $272.8 million in net reserve income after distribution payments.
The company publishes “Revenue Less Distribution Costs” as a core performance metric each quarter. Circle’s net reserve margin settled at 37% in the fourth quarter, meaning the issuer retained approximately $0.37 for every dollar of gross reserve yield.
Stablecoin issuers generate income by holding user deposits in reserve portfolios consisting primarily of short-term Treasury securities and similar instruments. Circle reported a 3.8% reserve return rate in the fourth quarter, down 68 basis points year-over-year. Average USDC in circulation doubled from $38.1 billion to $76.2 billion during the period.
Distribution costs rose 52% year-over-year, according to the earnings report. Circle attributed the increase to “increased distribution payments” to exchanges, wallets, and fintech platforms that provide user access. The prior-year period included a $60 million one-time fee to a distribution partner, previously disclosed.
Circle’s five-quarter trend data shows distributors consistently claimed approximately 63% of reserve income each quarter. Distribution payments are tied to placement agreements and transaction flows rather than fixed technology costs.
The company’s risk disclosures state it may be “unable to maintain existing relationships with financial institutions and similar firms or enter into new relationships.” Circle flags potential pressure to accept “less favorable financial terms” with distribution partners and highlights “dependence on a few key distributors” as a structural constraint.
Circle tracks a metric called “USDC on Platform,” measuring the share of total USDC held across partner platforms. That figure reached $12.5 billion at year-end, up 459% year-over-year, with a daily weighted average of 17.8% of total circulation, according to company data.
Treasury bill yields remained in the mid-3% range as of late February 2026. Market expectations contemplate potential Federal Reserve rate cuts in coming quarters, according to financial market data. A declining rate environment would compress reserve income while distribution costs may prove less flexible, potentially pressuring issuer margins.
Circle’s guidance reflects margin compression relative to the fourth quarter’s 40% RLDC margin, according to the company’s forward-looking statements. The guidance indicates distribution costs may not decline proportionally to reserve income in a lower-rate environment.
In most stablecoin implementations, users do not directly receive yield on their holdings. Issuers earn reserve income and negotiate distribution agreements with platforms that control user access. Distributors do not bear balance sheet risk associated with reserves.
The GENIUS Act, referenced in Circle’s regulatory disclosures, establishes a U.S. framework for payment stablecoins. The legislation formalizes regulatory requirements for stablecoin issuers.
Circle’s operational risk disclosures focus on distributor relationships rather than traditional liquidity concerns. The company states that major partners could change incentive structures, promote competing stablecoins, or develop proprietary infrastructure. Such shifts could reallocate transaction flows and distribution economics.
Circle’s reserves are liquid, audited, and managed conservatively, according to company disclosures. The balance sheet is structured to withstand redemption surges.
The company’s “USDC on Platform” metric monitors concentration of balances across distribution partners. Higher concentration on specific platforms affects negotiating leverage in distribution agreements.
Market dynamics in the stablecoin sector increasingly focus on securing and maintaining distribution relationships with platforms that control user access. Issuers compete for placement on exchanges, wallets, and payment rails that determine transaction flows.
Circle’s fourth quarter results showed the company generated $733.4 million in reserve income and allocated $460.6 million to distribution and transaction costs, leaving $272.8 million in net reserve income before operating expenses.
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