Circle and ACI Worldwide Test USDC Settlement in Colombia

The collaboration leverages ACI Connetic, a cloud-based platform that manages diverse payment flows. By utilizing ACI's existing role in the Colombian Bre-B instant payments network—an ecosystem developed alongside the central bank, Banco de la República—the partners intend to show that digital assets can function as a parallel settlement layer.

Craig Ramsey, global head of account-to-account payments at ACI, noted that the project shifts the narrative from theoretical potential to practical application. Rather than forcing a complete overhaul of internal banking technology, the integration seeks to wrap USDC settlement into the familiar oversight and governance structures banks already utilize. While the Bre-B network has already processed over 500 million transactions since its inception, this specific initiative remains strictly exploratory. The companies have yet to name participating banks, define technical connection points, or provide a timeline for commercial availability. This project follows Circle’s broader strategy to penetrate emerging markets in Latin America, positioning USDC as a viable alternative for institutional settlement.