Digital Asset Accounts assigns risk ratings to each end-customer
account based on the
verified business profile. These ratings determine transaction limits and
capabilities.
Risk tiers
Circle assigns one of four risk tiers to each end-customer account:
| Tier | Label | Description |
|---|
| L | Low | Fully verified entities with established operating history and low-risk profiles |
| M | Medium | Verified entities with standard risk profiles |
| MH | Medium-High | Entities requiring enhanced monitoring due to business type or jurisdiction |
| H | High | Entities with elevated risk factors subject to stricter limits and review |
- 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:
| Transaction type | Description |
|---|
| Wire deposit | Maximum fiat amount per wire deposit |
| Wire withdrawal | Maximum fiat amount per wire withdrawal |
| Crypto transfer | Maximum stablecoin amount per outbound transfer |
| Internal transfer | Maximum stablecoin amount per internal movement |
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 through
GET /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. 
