Circle has won an arbitration dispute against Heka Funds, defeating a $49 million damages claim linked to a 2023 platform suspension, according to a report. Circle suspected trading patterns that favored Tether’s USDT and removed the fund’s access. The outcome became public on July 14, 2026.
None of the parties has issued an official statement. Therefore, the report remains the only public account of the dispute and ruling.
Circle operates the USDC stablecoin and controls access to its platform services. In late 2023, the company suspended Heka Funds after reviewing its trading activity. According to the report, the fund’s trading patterns allegedly favored USDT in a targeted manner. Circle viewed the conduct as close to market manipulation.
The company considered the activity a threat to USDC’s market integrity. It then withdrew the fund’s access to its platform and related services. Heka Funds challenged the suspension through arbitration in 2024. It demanded $49 million for profits it claimed to have lost after losing platform access.
The fund relied on Circle’s issuance, redemption, and trading channels. Therefore, the suspension reduced the number of routes available for its arbitrage strategy.
The arbitrator dismissed the damages claim and ruled in Circle’s favor. As a result, Circle did not have to pay the requested amount. The report did not disclose the ruling date or the arbitrator’s detailed reasoning. Arbitration proceedings usually keep financial disputes outside public courtrooms.
A privately appointed arbitrator decides the case. Both parties must generally follow the ruling and have limited options to challenge it. Heka Funds operates through Heka Funds SICAV p.l.c. in Malta. Its Elysium Global Arbitrage Fund uses a strategy managed by London-based Abraxas Capital Management.
The fund began operating in late 2018 and focused on stablecoin and Tether arbitrage. It targeted small price differences across exchanges and digital tokens.
These strategies depend on large transaction volumes and fast settlement. Losing a major trading partner can reduce available opportunities and lower potential returns.
A 2021 Protos investigation said the fund held up to €540 million, or about $570 million, across USDC and USDT. The investigation also reported cumulative gains above 100% since the fund’s launch. In 2021, the fund recorded about €49 million in annual profit.
That amount resembles the later arbitration claim. However, the figures relate to separate matters from different years.
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Access decisions directly affect arbitrage funds since their strategies depend on issuer redemption channels and several trading routes. Circle and Tether lead the global stablecoin market, while USDT holds the larger market value. Circle has traded on the NYSE since June 2025.
The company uses the ticker CRCL. Its public listing also places its operations under greater market and regulatory scrutiny. Meanwhile, the United States is developing federal stablecoin rules through the GENIUS Act.
The proposed framework covers reserves, audits, disclosures, and issuer requirements. No official response has emerged from Circle, Tether, Heka Funds, or Abraxas Capital. The detailed basis for the arbitrator’s ruling therefore remains undisclosed.
Circle defeated Heka Funds’ $49 million damages claim after suspending the fund over trading patterns that allegedly favored USDT. Although the arbitrator backed Circle, the reasoning remains undisclosed. Market participants should watch for official statements that may clarify the case and its impact on stablecoin platform access.