Alpen Labs said in New York on September 24, 2026, that it plans to integrate Circle’s USDC stablecoin and Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol (CCTP) when its Bitcoin-focused platform launches on mainnet later this year. The proposed integration would give applications built around bitcoin a dollar-denominated asset for pricing and settlement. Its operation and uptake have yet to be demonstrated.
Alpen says its platform uses zero-knowledge verification to support applications compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine while allowing users to retain native bitcoin. Developers could use USDC in lending and trading products backed by BTC, according to the company. CCTP is intended to move USDC between Alpen and other supported networks, providing a route for wallets, custodians and financial platforms to connect those products.
The distinction between the two assets is central to the proposal. USDC would move between supported networks, while Alpen says users would be able to access dollar liquidity without selling their BTC or transferring it to another blockchain. The announcement does not explain in detail how BTC collateral would be held, verified or released, or what protections would apply if a loan were liquidated.
“Much of the on-chain financial infrastructure around [bitcoin] still remains limited,” said Simanta Gautam, Alpen Labs’ chief executive and co-founder. The planned launch tests whether stablecoin settlement can support financial applications linked to native BTC while meeting the custody, security and risk-management requirements of institutional users.
Alpen described the integration as bringing USDC to Bitcoin “for the first time.” That claim should be read in the context of its own platform: bitcoin-backed borrowing and USDC products already exist elsewhere. The practical significance of Alpen’s approach will depend on the mainnet launch and on how its applications handle native BTC collateral in live transactions.
