Circle CEO welcomes DJ Khaled to 'Team USDC', stirring backlash in crypto community

[Digital Today reporter Jinju Hong] Circle posted content that made it look as if rapper DJ Khaled had joined “Team USDC”, prompting continued backlash from the crypto community.

Decrypto, a blockchain media outlet, reported on Oct. 6 that the post did not appear to be an announcement of an official sponsorship or promotional deal. But DJ Khaled’s past history of promoting cryptocurrencies again became the center of controversy.

The controversy began on Oct. 5 when the official USDC account on X, formerly Twitter, posted a photo of DJ Khaled with the phrase “Another one”. In the photo, DJ Khaled was wearing a Chelsea jersey with “USDC by Circle” written across the chest. About 4 hours later, Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire (제러미 알레어) shared the post and wrote, “Welcome to Team USDC.”

There was no mention anywhere in the post of a sponsorship agreement, an ambassador appointment or a payment. Circle is a front-of-shirt sponsor for Chelsea, and DJ Khaled is known as a figure who appeared through a Roc Nation-related promotion Chelsea announced in May. Based on what has been confirmed so far, it means there is no sign that a separate deal has been made official.

Even so, the market reaction was strong. User Joseph Sciarrichi criticized the move on X, saying, “Don’t work with someone involved in this kind of fraud,” and asked whether Circle would let “someone who was fined hundreds of thousands of dollars by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for illegally failing to disclose ICO promotion compensation” represent the brand.