According to CoinMeta, and as reported by "Star Island Headlines," after Circle became the sponsor on the chest of Chelsea Football Club's jerseys for the 2026/27 season in the Premier League, the USDC logo on the jerseys sparked regulatory discussions in Hong Kong. The report states that Circle is not currently a licensed stablecoin issuer in Hong Kong, and some local fans and retailers are concerned that wearing or selling such jerseys may violate regulations regarding the promotion of stablecoins. In response to media inquiries, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority stated that it would not comment on individual cases. Whether such promotion constitutes "active promotion" to the Hong Kong public would need to be determined based on specific circumstances, including the language used in the promotional information, whether it is targeted at Hong Kong residents, whether a Hong Kong domain name is used, and whether there is a detailed promotion plan in place.