Circle CEO won't freeze USDC without court order

Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire stated the company will only freeze USDC wallets upon receiving a court order or directive from law enforcement, not in real-time during hacks. This policy contrasts with rivals like Tether, which has frozen funds more proactively. Critics argue Circle's inaction has allowed hundreds of millions in illicit funds to escape since 2022, citing recent exploits where USDC remained accessible for hours. However, some industry experts caution that discretionary freezes could undermine decentralized finance by introducing centralized control.