Hackathons to Unicorns: Why the Next Big Thing Can Run on USDC | DoraHacks (Steve Ngok) | Builder Series

Hackathons to Unicorns: Why the Next Big Thing Can Run on USDC | DoraHacks (Steve Ngok) | Builder Series

Hackathons have always been fertile ground for innovation, and in this episode, Steve Ngok shares how DoraHacks is partnering with Circle to unlock new opportunities for builders. From bounties powered by USDC to the future of stablecoins in mainstream adoption, Steve offers unique insights into why this moment is the golden time to build. KEY TAKEAWAYS: 00:00 Introduction. 02:44 The role of hackathons in driving collaboration and new ideas. 03:43 AI is transforming hackathon infrastructure and efficiency. 04:58 Enterprises gain significant value from hackathon ecosystems. 08:12 Circle developer bounties create new opportunities for builders. 11:23 Stablecoin-powered payments unlock consumer applications. 12:34 USDC is trusted as a compliant and secure stablecoin. 13:01 USDC’s expansion across multiple chains strengthens ecosystems. 13:56 This is the golden time to build with Circle and USDC. Resources Mentioned: DoraHacks [https://www.linkedin.com/company/dorahacks/] | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/dorahacks/ DoraHacks [https://dorahacks.io/] | Website https://dorahacks.io/ Circle Developer Bounties [https://dorahacks.io/hackathon/circle-developer-bounties-1/detail] https://dorahacks.io/hackathon/circle-developer-bounties-1/detail Thanks for listening to the Circle Builders Series. To learn more about Circle, please visit www.circle.com/build [http://www.circle.com/build]. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss any insightful conversations. Get $100 in Circle developer credits! Sign up at circle.com/build [http://circle.com/build] to access this exclusive offer. #DigitalCurrency #BlockchainTechnology #Web3

AI Agents, USDC, and the Programmable Economy | thirdweb (Furqan Rydhan) | Builder Series

Furqan Rydhan, Founder of thirdweb, shares how USDC is shaping the future of onchain AI and developer ecosystems. From dynamic agents to scalable infrastructure, Furqan reveals how USDC is designed to maintain not just stable value but foundational programmability for next-gen apps and agent economies. Furqan explains why Circle's tools, including CCTP, help to unlock seamless USDC movement across chains, powering thousands of thirdweb apps without developers needing to manage complexity. Key Takeaways: (01:01) Programmable value is essential for enabling real-world use cases. (11:08) Intelligent agents require infrastructure that can reason and transact autonomously. (15:10) Dynamic contract creation can support complex, customized interactions. (16:37) USDC simplifies how value moves across agents, apps, and services. (17:59) Developers benefit from abstracted tools that handle wallets and permissions. (19:18) Circle’s infrastructure is critical for enabling trusted, crosschain activity. (29:08) Onchain economies are forming through tools that reduce friction and risk. (32:34) USDC supports new income models and participation in digital-first jobs. Resources Mentioned: Circle’s CCTP [https://www.circle.com/cross-chain-transfer-protocol] https://www.circle.com/cross-chain-transfer-protocol Circle Discord [https://discord.com/invite/buildoncircle] https://discord.com/invite/buildoncircle Nebula [https://nebula.thirdweb.com/login] https://nebula.thirdweb.com/login Thirdweb | Website [https://thirdweb.com/] https://thirdweb.com/ USDC [https://www.circle.com/usdc] https://www.circle.com/usdc Thanks for listening to the Circle Builder Series. To learn more about Circle, please visit www.circle.com/developer [http://www.circle.com/developer]. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss any insightful conversations. Get $100 in Circle developer credits! Sign up at circle.com/build [http://circle.com/build] to access this exclusive offer.

Powering Solar With USDC: Glow Protocol

IN THIS EPISODE, DAVID VORICK [https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-vorick-6758a66a/] SHARES HOW GLOW’S INCENTIVE MECHANISM, A RECURSIVE AND PERFORMANCE-BASED FUNDING MODEL, CHANNELS ELECTRICITY REVENUE FROM NEWLY VERIFIED SOLAR FARMS INTO BUILDING MORE SOLAR PROJECTS. USING USDC AND SMART CONTRACTS, GLOW HELPS PROVIDE FUNDING TO SOME OF THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE AND VERIFIABLY CONSTRUCTED SOLAR FARMS. KEY TAKEAWAYS: (01:56) Building on reliable infrastructure supports growth. (03:20) Incentive models can drive real-world change. (07:17) Technology and nature can advance together. (09:12) Smarter funding models improve climate impact. (14:10) Glow operates as a virtual factory, using incentives to drive real-world outcomes. (16:37) Circle’s USDC powers all electricity revenue flows within the ecosystem. (21:24) Climate solutions require phased strategies. (22:56) Growing energy demand presents new opportunities. (26:06) Blockchain technology can enable sustainability. Resources Mentioned: DAVID VORICK [https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-vorick-6758a66a/] HTTPS://WWW.LINKEDIN.COM/IN/DAVID-VORICK-6758A66A/ Glow International [https://glow.org/] | Website https://glow.org/ Glow Audit Hub [https://hub.glow.org/] https://hub.glow.org/ Thanks for listening to the Circle Builder Series. To learn more about Circle, please visit circle.com/developer [http://circle.com/developer]. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss any insightful conversations. Get $100 in Circle developer credits! Sign up at circle.com/build [http://circle.com/build] to access this exclusive offer. #DigitalCurrency #BlockchainTechnology #Web3

Unlocking USDC for LATAM's Underbanked

Nelson Peña [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nelsonp1/], Co-Founder and Chief Financial Officer of Amero Exchange [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ameroexchange/], shares his mission to make digital finance accessible across Latin America by simplifying remittances, enabling bank-free living, and redefining financial trust. In this conversation with Sam Sealey, Nelson shares personal stories and talks about Amero’s early hurdles and the transformative power of USDC in real-life emergencies. This episode dives into what it means to create an inclusive financial ecosystem from the ground up. KEY TAKEAWAYS: (01:27) The importance of building solutions rooted in personal and community needs. (02:56) The widespread impact of limited banking access across underserved regions. (04:33) How high transaction fees can deepen financial exclusion. (09:38) Why enabling easy access to digital dollars is crucial for adoption. (13:10) How aligned missions can drive product and ecosystem growth. (14:35) Making blockchain tools accessible by focusing on user familiarity. (17:38) Building resilient infrastructure by connecting multiple technologies. (19:52) Simplifying crypto so users can benefit without needing to understand the tech. RESOURCES MENTIONED: Nelson Peña [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nelsonp1/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/nelsonp1/ Amero Exchange [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ameroexchange/] | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/ameroexchange/ AMERO EXCHANGE [https://amero.exchange] | WEBSITE https://amero.exchange USDC [https://www.circle.com/usdc] https://www.circle.com/usdc Thanks for listening to the Circle Builder Series. To learn more about Circle, please visit www.circle.com/developer [http://www.circle.com/developers]. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss any insightful conversations. #DigitalCurrency #BlockchainTechnology #Web3

Unlocking Financial Independence With USDC

Access to stable money shouldn’t be a privilege — it should be a right. In this episode of the Builder Series, we sit down with Rubén Galindo Steckel [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rub%C3%A9n-galindo-steckel-0860176a/?originalSubdomain=mx], CEO and Co-Founder of Airtm [https://www.linkedin.com/company/airtm/]*, to discuss how his company is transforming financial access across the LATAM. Rubén shares how Airtm, with Circle’s USDC, is helping individuals and businesses securely move money, earn income in a stable currency, and access global opportunities. But Airtm’s impact goes beyond payments. When COVID-19 hit, doctors and nurses in Venezuela were left unpaid, unable to access their wages due to financial restrictions. That’s when Airtm and Circle stepped in with a groundbreaking USDC-powered solution. What happened next? You won’t want to miss it! *Circle Ventures, an affiliate of Circle Internet Financial, LLC, has invested in Airtm KEY TAKEAWAYS: (01:57) Rubén’s fintech journey begins with an internship at a crypto exchange, revealing the need for better financial solutions. (03:46) Motivated by a sense of justice and respect for freedom, Airtm was founded to help bring access to stable currencies. (05:33) In 2015, Airtm launched one of the first stablecoin wallets, enabling unrestricted access to stable currency. (13:22) Users in the Global South are willing to pay up to 30% in fees just to access funds quickly, exposing banking inefficiencies. (24:37) Airtm partners with Circle to transfer US Dollars via USDC to Venezuelan healthcare workers. (36:05) Airtm shifts focus from financial freedom to financial independence, helping users earn in USDC. (47:58) AI-driven platforms and blockchain payments create new freelance opportunities in developing countries. (52:42) Traditional cross-border payments are becoming commoditized, leading to the unbundling of services. RESOURCES MENTIONED: RUBÉN GALINDO STECKEL [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rub%C3%A9n-galindo-steckel-0860176a/?originalSubdomain=mx] https://www.linkedin.com/in/rub%C3%A9n-galindo-steckel-0860176a/?originalSubdomain=mx Airtm [https://www.linkedin.com/company/airtm/] LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/airtm/ AIRTM [https://www.airtm.com/] WEBSITE https://www.airtm.com/ Circle [https://www.circle.com/] https://www.circle.com/ Thanks for listening to the Circle Builder Series. To learn more about Circle, please visit www.circle.com/build [http://www.circle.com/build]. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss any insightful conversations. Get $100 in Circle developer credits! Sign up at circle.com/build [http://circle.com/build] to access this exclusive offer. #DigitalCurrency #BlockchainTechnology #Web3