v3.26.3
Revenue recognition
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2026
Revenue Recognition and Deferred Revenue [Abstract]  
Revenue recognition
11. Revenue recognition
Disaggregation of Revenue
The following table summarizes the disaggregation of revenue by major product and service (in thousands):
Table 11.1. Revenue by Product and Service
Three months ended September 30,Nine months ended September 30,
2026202520262025
Reserve income
$657,624 $711,241 $1,977,865 $1,903,426 
Other revenue
Subscription and services19,587 23,594 82,604 60,089 
Transaction revenue5,335 4,664 17,395 12,115 
   Other182,342 260 182,472 780 
Total other revenue207,264 28,518 282,471 72,984 
Total revenue and reserve income
$864,888 $739,759 $2,260,336 $1,976,410 
Reserve income
All Circle stablecoins issued and outstanding are fully backed by equivalent amounts of fiat currency denominated assets held in segregated reserve accounts. The Company earns interest and dividends on assets held in reserve accounts, which include cash balances held at banks, investments in the Circle Reserve Fund and U.S. Treasury securities held outside of the Circle Reserve Fund. Interest income is recognized under the effective interest method, and dividend income from the Circle Reserve Fund is recognized on the declaration date. Reserve income also includes changes in the fair value of U.S. Treasury securities held outside of the Circle Reserve Fund.
Other revenue
Other revenue generally consists of revenues generated from services that increase the utility of Circle Digital Assets and related transactions. The components of other revenue primarily include revenues from subscription and services, transaction revenues, and other revenues.
Subscription and services consist of customer agreements where recurring revenue is generated from integration and maintenance services, fund management, time-based access, and user-based licensing. Payment for services received at the inception of the customer agreements in the form of digital assets is measured at fair value at the contract inception. Revenues from subscription contracts and maintenance services are recognized over time as the services are delivered. Revenues from integration services contracts which have specific performance obligations are recognized at the point in time when delivery of the services are completed and accepted by the customer. The Company receives fees associated with the management of USYC in the form of performance fees. Performance fees represent variable consideration and are recognized as revenue when the Company is entitled to such fees and significant reversals of such fees are not probable.
Transaction revenue is generated from usage-based, volume-based, or event-driven transactions. This includes fees associated with the redemption of Circle stablecoins and USYC, blockchain rewards revenue and use of Circle infrastructure in facilitating digital asset transactions (including CCTP). Transaction revenue contracts constitute a series of distinct processing services that the Company stands ready to provide to the customers over the contract period and services performed for participation in blockchain networks. The transaction price for these services is variable based on the number or volume of transactions processed, and consideration is allocated to the distinct service that forms part of its single performance obligation to provide such services. Revenue is recognized at the point in time as the performance obligation is met. The Company incurs expenses to assist in fulfilling obligations to process transactions. The Company acts as the principal in providing services to customers and, therefore, recognizes associated revenue and expenses on a gross basis.
Other revenue during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2026 includes ARC token presale revenue of $181.8 million reflecting the Company's progress in satisfying its performance obligation. Other revenue is also generated from fees associated with certain non-recurring services and discontinued legacy products. Such customer contracts typically have one performance obligation and revenue is recognized at the point in time the services are provided.
Deferred Revenue
Deferred revenue represents consideration received that is yet to be recognized as revenue. The changes in our deferred revenue are reflected in the following table (in thousands):
Table 11.2. Changes in Deferred Revenue
Balance at December 31, 2025$11,512 
Deferred revenue additions in the current period, net of revenue recognized61,400 
Revenue recognized that was included in the beginning period (11,118)
Balance at September 30, 2026$61,794 
Balance at December 31, 2024$13,390 
Deferred revenue additions in the current period, net of revenue recognized 5,961 
Revenue recognized that was included in the beginning period (13,390)
Balance at September 30, 2025$5,961 
During the three months ended June 30, 2026, we entered into token purchase agreements with certain institutional investors pursuant to which we agreed to issue and sell to such purchasers an aggregate of 807.5 million ARC tokens. The ARC tokens were offered and sold at a purchase price of $0.30 per token and resulted in aggregate gross proceeds to us of approximately $242.2 million. The aggregate gross proceeds, net of recognized revenue of $181.8 million, are recognized as deferred revenue within Other current liabilities on the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2026.
On May 8, 2026, as part of the ARC token presale, we entered into a token purchase agreement with an entity affiliated with IDG Capital, a beneficial holder of more than 5% of our capital stock, pursuant to which we agreed to issue and sell to such entity, an aggregate of 83.3 million ARC tokens for a purchase price of $0.30 per token or $25.0 million in the aggregate. The amount of the token purchase by IDG Capital is included in, and not in addition to, the amounts noted in the preceding paragraph.