Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire brushed aside Bitcoin (BTC) underperformance this year, pitching stablecoins as non-speculative digital dollars for payments and an AI-driven economy. In a CNBC interview, he said he focuses on digital dollars rather than crypto assets’ trading, according to BeInCrypto. He sees AI agents creating demand but gave no estimate; Circle launched its Arc blockchain in September. The OCC is finalizing GENIUS Act rules requiring reserves equal to outstanding stablecoins and redemption at par within two business days, while barring interest payments. Allaire said the law has bipartisan backing; the CLARITY Act failed in the Senate, while 21 institutions have committed to a joint stablecoin issuer.