Circle, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, announced that it will sponsor Chelsea Football Club for the 2026/2027 season, placing its name and USDC logo on the team's jerseys. The partnership comes three months after the UK Financial Conduct Authority warned Premier League clubs about sponsorship arrangements with unauthorized financial firms, including crypto companies. Circle UK Trading Limited, the firm’s UK subsidiary, has been authorized by the FCA since 2018 to provide certain financial services. While stablecoins such as USDC are permitted in the United Kingdom, the FCA is preparing a regulatory framework that will apply to digital asset companies, including stablecoin issuers, beginning in October 2027. Circle stated that USDC is issued by regulated affiliates, but the token itself is not issued or regulated under UK law. The FCA declined to comment, and Circle did not respond to a request for comment. A separate UK government report noted 240 crypto millionaires in 2025.