Chelsea FC gets Circle stablecoin sponsorship after FCA warning

Chelsea FC will display Circle and USDC on player jerseys during the 2026/2027 season. Circle is the issuer behind the USDC stablecoin. The sponsorship deal came about three months after the UK Financial Conduct Authority sent warning letters to Premier League clubs. The letters concerned unauthorized financial firms, including crypto companies, using sponsorships to target football fans. The FCA said those deals could breach UK financial services laws. Lucy Castledine, the FCA's director of consumer investments, said clubs should not let unauthorized financial firms exploit fans' trust. Circle UK Trading Limited has been listed as an FCA-authorized company since 2018 for certain financial services. Stablecoins such as USDC are legal to use in the UK. UK lawmakers are working on a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets. Circle said USDC was issued by certain regulated affiliates. Circle also said USDC was not issued or regulated under UK law.