Circle’s $1.1B IPO values firm at $6.9B

Circle Internet Group Inc, the firm that oversees the USDC stablecoin, has completed its IPO and raised $1.05 billion after selling 34 million shares for $31 per share. 

The IPO values Circle at around $6.8 billion and nearly $8 billion on a fully diluted basis when options and other securities are included.

Shares are set to start trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker CRCL from Thursday, marking a moment of reckoning for the crypto industry. Its underwriters are JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, and Citigroup.

The IPO was so heavily oversubscribed. More than 25 times as many shares were ordered as available, according to people familiar with the matter. This suggests increasing confidence in the stablecoin world sector as it progresses towards regulatory clarity in the United States.

Of particular note, ARK Invest (under the guidance of Cathie Wood) has indicated that it would buy up to $150 million in Circle shares. A second large backer, BlackRock, is expected to buy about 10 percent of the IPO shares. BlackRock also oversees Circle’s $53.3 billion Reserve Fund, which underpins over 90% of USDC’s reserves.

Circle expands USDC’s market reach

Circle’s USD Coin (USDC) is now the world’s second-largest stablecoin by market capitalization, behind Tether (USDT). According to the company’s website data, about $61 billion was in circulation as of May 29. This is roughly equivalent to 29% of the entire stablecoin market, according to CoinMarketCap.

Stablecoins are digital currencies typically pegged to the value of the dollar. They are used to make payments, remittances, trade, or aDeFi (alternative decentralized finance) services. While cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are volatile, stablecoins are designed to provide stability in price — a challenge easy to understand why those stablecoins are so popular.

USDC circulation had in the past deteriorated during the crypto winter but picked up again in 2024 as markets and investor sentiment stabilized. Circle’s financial health has since improved.

In 2024, Circle generated $1.68 billion in revenue and $156 million in net income, according to the filings for the IPO. Many of those dollars were income from U.S. Treasuries, which back USDC. However, high distribution costs — which included big payments to strategic partner Coinbase — dinged overall profit.

Nonetheless, the IPO is a milestone that has put Circle in the crypto space and made it a significant player in global financial infrastructure.

Lawmakers push to regulate stablecoins

The timing of Circle’s stock market debut couldn’t be more opportune. In the U.S., lawmakers are mulling legislation to create a stablecoins regulation system. The GENIUS Act would codify reserve requirements, auditing, and transparency best practices — effectively legitimizing stablecoin issuers such as Circle.

Making matters right, President Donald Trump’s crypto-friendly administration is on the rebound. Trump has signaled his interest in digital assets, pledging to scrub rules that are stalling growth and innovation.

At the same time, the largest American banks and other financial companies are all reportedly considering issuing stablecoins. In a sign of big banks’ increased focus on cryptocurrency, a clutch of large American banks and financial institutions is said to be in discussions to launch a stablecoin of their own, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday — a development that could add a note of legitimization while also upping the ante for rivals.

But Circle is out of the gate. Its close relationship with BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, and its early cooperation with regulation orders have made it a potential model for stablecoins regulation.

The successful IPO delivers a message to regulators, investors, and the larger financial world: stablecoins are not simply crypto experiments but are increasingly central to modern finance.

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