After a choppy end to 2025, Wall Street broker Bernstein said crypto markets have likely bottomed and it sees a broad-based tokenization boom reshaping finance.
Analysts broadly agree that U.S. crypto exchanges need to diversify beyond spot trading, but differ on whether newer products can meaningfully reduce earnings volatility.
USDC grew faster than USDT for the second consecutive year, driven by increased demand for regulated digital dollars.
The release, distributed on Christmas Eve, used Circle branding and claimed to quote executives, but a Circle spokesperson said it was "not real."
Circle remains the bank's top pick in the sector, with Bullish and Coinbase following.
Circle continues to position USDC as a compliant settlement layer for incumbents, following deals with Visa and major crypto exchanges.
Allaire spent 2025 pushing regulated digital dollars into the mainstream, shaping U.S. policy and unveiling Arc as the foundation for institutional blockchain finance.
Visa has opened stablecoin settlement to U.S. banks using Circle’s USDC on Solana, as institutional interest in crypto rails accelerates.
Initial participants include Cross River Bank and Lead Bank, which are settling with Visa in USDC over the Solana blockchain.
Cathie Wood-led Ark Invest bought millions of dollars worth of shares in BitMine, Circle, Coinbase, Block, and Bullish on Monday.
The firms have obtained conditional approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to convert into national trust banks.
Circle’s slow but steady expansion into the Middle East has taken a decisive step forward, as the USDC issuer secured a Financial Services Permission (FSP) license from Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). Related Reading: Shiba Inu Whales Spike To 6-Month High: What’s Brewing? The move positions the company at the center of the UAE’s growing digital-asset ecosystem, strengthening its ability to scale stablecoin adoption across the region. For a market actively developing clearer regulatory frameworks and attracting global crypto players, Circle’s entry underscores the central role stablecoins have come to play in payment infrastructure and cross-border finance. ETH's price trends to the downside on the daily chart. Source: ETHUSD on Tradingview Circle Secures ADGM Approval and Expands Regional Strategy The license, granted by ADGM’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority, permits Circle to operate as a regulated Money Services Provider within the financial free zone. This follows preliminary approval earlier this year and gives the firm formal permission to offer USDC-powered payment, settlement and on-chain financial tools to businesses and institutions across the UAE. Alongside the approval, Circle appointed Dr. Saeeda Jaffar as managing director for the Middle East and Africa. A long-time payments executive with leadership experience at Visa and major consulting firms, she will guide Circle’s expansion efforts, deepen local partnerships, and help integrate USDC into regional prospects. Her appointment reflects Circle’s intent to localize operations and strengthen ties with banks, enterprises, and government entities. UAE Supports Push Toward Regulated Digital Finance Circle’s regulatory milestone comes as the UAE increases its efforts to build an institutional-grade digital asset ecosystem. ADGM and Dubai’s DIFC have both issued stablecoin and token frameworks designed to offer clarity for companies operating in the sector. USDC and EURC were recognized earlier this year under Dubai’s crypto token regime, providing Circle with visibility across both major financial zones in the country. The approval also coincides with a wave of regulatory progress for other major players. Binance received full authorization to operate its global platform under ADGM oversight this week, while Tether secured recognition for USDT across multiple blockchain networks. These developments show how Abu Dhabi is positioning itself as a global hub for regulated stablecoin activity, driven by remittance demand, trade flows, and a growing emphasis on compliance. Stablecoin Adoption Enters New Phase The UAE’s structured approach comes at a time when stablecoins are gaining broader acceptance in global finance. With regulatory guardrails expanding internationally and stablecoins increasingly used for cross-border payments, Circle’s license opens the door for wider USDC adoption in corporate finance, developer applications, and digital-asset settlement. Related Reading: Bitcoin Speculation Muted: Glassnode Analyst Calls Perps A ‘Ghost Town’ For Circle, the ADGM license marks a pivotal foothold in one of the world’s fastest-moving regulatory environments. For the UAE, it reinforces an ambition to lead in compliant digital-asset innovation while shaping standards for a rapidly evolving sector. Cover image from ChatGPT, ETHUSD chart from Tradingview
The license allows Circle to expand USDC payment and settlement tools across the United Arab Emirates.
The Nov. 25 buys included $7.6 million in Circle and $1.5 million in Bullish, with both stocks down on the day as BTC trades around $87,500.
On-chain analytics platform Lookonchain has provided insights into what may have contributed to the Solana price crash since October. The platform revealed that meme coin launchpad Pump.fun has sold a significant amount of SOL, cashing out almost $500 million since the start of October. Pump.fun Allegedly Dumps SOL Amid Solana Price Crash In an X post, Lookonchain suggested that Pump.fun has been selling SOL, as it appears that the meme coin launchpad has cashed out at least 436.5 million USDC since October 15. The on-chain analytics platform also stated that since October 15, the meme coin launchpad has deposited 436.5 million USDC into Kraken. Related Reading: Forget XRP, DFDV Exec Predicts Solana Price Is Headed For $10,000 Furthermore, Lookonchain revealed that between May 19, 2024, and August 12, 2025, Pump.fun sold a total of 4.19 million SOL ($757 million) at an average price of $181. Of that amount, 264,373 SOL was sold on-chain for $41.64 million, while 3.93 million SOL ($715.5 million) was deposited into Kraken. Pump.fun’s SOL sales are known to put significant selling pressure on the Solana price, thereby contributing to its crash. Notably, the Solana price has recorded one of the largest losses during this recent crypto market downtrend. SOL crashed from a high of around $220 in October to a low of $120 this month. This has occurred despite the launch of six spot Solana ETFs during this period. Bitwise, Grayscale, Fidelity, 21Shares, VanEck, and Canary have all launched their SOL funds and have recorded notable flows since launch. SoSo Value data shows that these funds have recorded cumulative net inflows of $568.24 million since their respective listings. Despite this, the Solana price has been in a downtrend amid significant selling pressure from SOL whales. Thanks to the crash, SOL is now down over 28% year-to-date (YTD). The altcoin is also down over 28% in the last 30 days. Pump.fun Denies Recent SOL Sales A Pump.fun spokesperson, Sapijiju, has indicated that they haven’t sold any SOL recently and haven’t contributed to the Solana price crash. In an X post, he described Lookonchain’s post as complete misinformation, as they haven’t cashed any sum. He claimed they were not involved in the transactions between Kraken and Circle that the on-chain analytics platform referenced. Related Reading: Institutions Have Been Buying Solana Every Day For 2 Weeks, Is $300 Possible? Lookonchain had claimed that during the same period, Pump.fun allegedly cashed out 436.5 million USDC, 537.6 million USDC was sent from Kraken to Circle. Meanwhile, regarding the 436.5 million USDC, Sapijiju stated that what is happening is part of their treasury management, with the USDC part of funds from the PUMP ICO, and with plans to reinvest the sum into the business. At the time of writing, the Solana price is trading at around $138, up almost 4% in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap. Featured image from Freepik, chart from Tradingview.com
The latest crypto slide has created an attractive entry point for the two companies' stocks, with core USDC and bitcoin theses still intact.
Crypto-related stocks are extending their slide, mirroring the sustained pullback in the broader digital asset market.
The drop in crypto-related stocks coincided with a broader crypto market pullback, with bitcoin currently trading at $91,795.
The crypto market remains under intense selling pressure, with sentiment turning increasingly bearish as Bitcoin trades below the $100,000 mark for the first time since May. Altcoins have fared even worse, extending a downtrend that began in early October. Despite this wave of uncertainty and fading bullish momentum, capital inflows into the market continue to grow — suggesting that investors may be preparing for the next phase of accumulation. Related Reading: Massive Bitcoin Bid Walls Spotted On Binance: Bulls Step In With 2,800 BTC Cluster Lookonchain reports that stablecoin issuance has surged in recent weeks, led by giants like Tether (USDT) and Circle (USDC). Together, the two firms have minted over $14 billion in new stablecoins since the October 10 market crash. This growing stablecoin supply often acts as a leading indicator of fresh capital waiting to be deployed. Historically, similar surges in stablecoin minting have preceded market rebounds, as traders and institutions position themselves to buy during periods of weakness. Circle’s USDC Mint Extends Liquidity Wave Amid Bearish Sentiment According to data shared by Lookonchain, Circle has just minted another $750 million in USDC, adding to the wave of stablecoin inflows seen across the market in recent weeks. This continues the broader trend of renewed liquidity entering the crypto ecosystem, with both Circle and Tether minting a combined $14 billion since the early October crash. Such activity often signals that capital is being parked on the sidelines, ready to be deployed into risk assets once confidence improves. However, despite this rise in liquidity, market sentiment remains highly fearful. Many traders and analysts warn that the persistent selling pressure and failure to hold key psychological levels — particularly Bitcoin’s fall below $100,000 — could mark the beginning of a broader bearish phase. The divergence between liquidity inflows and market performance reflects a complex environment where capital accumulation is not yet translating into buying momentum. In other words, while the stablecoin supply acts as the dry powder needed for a potential rebound, fear continues to dominate trading behavior. Whether this recent USDC minting fuels a recovery or simply cushions further downside will depend on how macro conditions evolve and whether institutional demand reemerges to absorb the current supply overhang. Related Reading: Ethereum Whale Expands Position By 36,437 ETH – Bringing Total To $1.34B USDC Dominance Climbs as Investors Seek Stability Amid Market Fear The chart shows USDC dominance rising steadily since mid-2024, now hovering around 2.33%, its highest level in nearly a year. This uptrend signals a growing preference for stability among crypto investors amid intensifying market volatility and declining risk appetite. As Bitcoin trades below $100,000 and altcoins continue to bleed, many traders are rotating their holdings into stablecoins like USDC to preserve capital. From a technical perspective, USDC dominance has broken above its 50-day and 100-day moving averages, indicating a shift in momentum toward capital preservation. Historically, such climbs in stablecoin dominance occur during correction or consolidation phases, when liquidity exits speculative assets and moves into safer reserves. Related Reading: $1.33B Ethereum Whale Just Moved Another $120M USDT to Binance – Details The recent $750 million USDC mint by Circle, coupled with rising on-chain stablecoin balances, reinforces this defensive market posture. While this influx boosts available liquidity, it also reflects widespread caution — investors are holding fire, waiting for clearer signals before reentering risk assets. If USDC dominance continues to climb, it may suggest further downside pressure across the crypto market. However, once dominance plateaus or declines, it could mark the early stages of a market rotation — signaling that stable liquidity is preparing to flow back into Bitcoin and altcoins. Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com
Following a notable debut on the Nasdaq earlier this year, Circle (CRCL), the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, has experienced a significant decline in its stock value. After hitting a peak of $298 on June 23, just 18 days post-launch, shares have now dropped by 68%, trading around $82. Circle Faces Challenges As Lockup Period Approaches Despite benefiting from a softer regulatory stance on digital assets in the US with President Trump’s crypto policies, Circle faces challenges that history does not favor, particularly as it approaches the end of its lockup period. Related Reading: Bitcoin Price Tumbles Toward $98,000: What’s Driving The Drop And What Lies Ahead Analysts, including Dan Dolev from Mizuho, highlighted that this lockup period prevents insiders from selling shares, typically for 180 days after an initial public offering. Circle’s initial public offering (IPO) filing indicated that this lockup period is set to expire two days after the company unveils its third-quarter earnings, which is this Friday. Mizuho’s analysis of over 750 IPOs with market capitalizations exceeding $1 billion reveals that 58% of companies that outperform the S&P 500 prior to their lockup period tend to underperform the index in the 180 days following it. These companies see an average decline of approximately 2%. The outlook is even bleaker for firms falling short of revenue expectations in the year after their IPOs, which tend to experience an average negative return of about 10% relative to the S&P 500. Circle may find itself in this latter category according to Mizuho. A significant portion of the company’s revenue comes from the interest on USDC reserves held in short-term US Treasuries, Treasury repurchase agreements, and cash. Consequently, a decline in interest rates or slower-than-anticipated growth of USDC could adversely impact revenue streams. Dolev noted: In our view, CRCL is likely to see downward revisions to consensus estimates over the coming years amid declining rates and less stellar proliferation of its USDC stablecoin, alongside growing distribution costs. Is CRCL A Buy-Low Opportunity? Despite these potential downward adjustments, Circle recently exceeded consensus estimates for both revenue and earnings in its third-quarter report. Related Reading: By The Numbers: First Spot XRP ETF Achieves Record Launch Amid 900 Competitors Following the announcement, JP Morgan issued a double-upgrade for the stock from Underweight to Overweight, raising its price target from $94 to $100. The bank underscored the ongoing acceptance of stablecoins within mainstream financial institutions, with USDC being a leading player in this space. However, the impending lockup expiration has already placed downward pressure on Circle’s stock, according to JP Morgan analyst Kenneth Worthington. He views the current situation as a “buy-low opportunity” for investors, suggesting that the stock’s decline post-lockup may have brought it to levels below its December 2026 price target, indicating potential for future upside. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
The USDC issuer's new stablecoin foreign exchange engine aims to modernize cross-border payments, reduce risk and streamline settlement.
Cathie Wood's investment firm added a total 353,328 CRCL shares across three of its ETFs: Innovation (ARKK), Next Generation Internet (ARKW) and Fintech Innovation (ARKF).
Circle’s earnings and Arc plans point to a broader bid for stablecoin dominance.
The bank said USDC remains the frontrunner to dominate digital dollars as the company's third-quarter results topped forecasts.
Total revenue and reserve income for the quarter rose to $740 million, more than double the year-earlier period.
In a recent CNBC interview, Jeremy Allaire outlined dollar-priced fees, fast finality, and privacy for Arc, while pointing to rising USDC use in emerging markets.
USDC leapfrogged USDT in onchain activity as regulatory clarity pushes investors toward transparent and compliant stablecoins.
The public testnet of Arc has drawn interest from global finance and tech players including BlackRock, HSBC, Visa, AWS and Anthropic.
ClearBank’s partnership with Circle aims to bring faster, lower-cost cross-border payments to Europe using USDC and EURC.