Risk tiers
Circle assigns one of four risk tiers to each end-customer account:
Risk tiers are assigned during KYB verification as part of Circle’s
compliance obligations.
Factors include:
- Business type and industry
- Operating jurisdiction
- Ownership structure
- Transaction volume expectations
Transaction limits
Each risk tier has associated limits that control the maximum values for different transaction types. Limits apply at multiple levels:Per-transaction limits
The maximum amount allowed for a single transaction. These limits vary by transaction type:
Specific limit values are defined in your program agreement and vary by risk
tier. Query the account’s limits through the API to retrieve the current values
for each transaction type.
Rolling limits
Cumulative limits over a rolling time period. The applicable periods (such as daily, weekly, or monthly) are program-specific and vary by risk tier.Balance limits
The maximum stablecoin balance that an account can hold at any point. If a deposit or transfer would cause the balance to exceed this limit, the transaction is rejected.How ratings change
Risk ratings can change over time based on:- Periodic reviews: Circle periodically reviews account profiles and may adjust risk ratings based on updated information
- Transaction patterns: Unusual transaction patterns may trigger a review that results in a rating change
- Updated business information: Changes to the business profile, such as expansion to new jurisdictions, may affect the rating
Risk rating changes are managed by Circle’s compliance team. Distributors cannot
directly modify the risk rating of an end-customer account.
Checking limits
The API exposes current limits for each account throughGET /v1/accounts/{accountId}/limits. Query this endpoint before initiating
transactions to confirm the operation falls in the account’s current limits. If
a transaction exceeds a limit, the API rejects the request with a 422 error.
See the
Digital Asset Accounts API reference
for endpoint details.