Circle Drops Native USDC on OKX's X Layer, CCTP Now Spans 26 Chains 🪙

Circle has launched native USDC and its Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol on OKX's X Layer, an Ethereum-compatible layer-2 network, bringing Circle-issued dollar stablecoins directly to the chain without reliance on bridged versions. The integration enables developers, businesses and applications on X Layer to use native USDC for decentralized finance, payments, trading, treasury management, real-world asset tokenization and AI-powered transactions, while qualified businesses gain access to USDC issuance and redemption through Circle Mint. X Layer is designed to support Ethereum-based applications with lower fees and faster settlement.

The addition of X Layer to Circle's network footprint lifts native USDC availability to 36 networks and CCTP-supported transfers to 26 blockchains, according to Circle. CCTP is built to move USDC between chains without using traditional wrapped versions of the stablecoin, allowing direct cross-chain settlement between participating networks. The protocol burns USDC on the source chain and mints an equivalent amount on the destination chain to complete the transfer.

Circle said the rollout extends regulated, dollar-based payment infrastructure to X Layer users and developers, providing a unified liquidity layer across the supported chains. The company framed the move as part of its broader effort to expand USDC's role as a settlement asset across decentralized finance and enterprise applications. By integrating directly with X Layer, Circle aims to reduce reliance on third-party bridges that have historically carried additional security and operational risks.

OKX developed X Layer as an Ethereum-compatible network intended to serve a range of on-chain use cases, including DeFi, payments, tokenization and AI-driven applications. The chain's lower transaction costs and faster settlement relative to Ethereum mainnet are positioned as supporting features for high-volume stablecoin activity. With native USDC now live on the network, builders can incorporate the stablecoin directly into smart contracts, payment flows and trading products without intermediary wrapping steps.

Industry observers have pointed to the growing number of chains supporting native USDC and CCTP as a sign of increasing institutional and developer demand for stable, regulated dollar rails across multiple blockchain environments. Circle's continued expansion of its cross-chain infrastructure underscores the strategic importance of interoperability for stablecoin issuers competing in an increasingly multi-chain market. The rollout marks another step in the broader shift toward native, rather than bridged, stablecoin integrations across layer-1 and layer-2 networks.