BitcoinWorld BlackRock’s Monumental ETH Acquisition: A Game-Changer for Ethereum? The cryptocurrency world is abuzz with groundbreaking news: asset management titan BlackRock has significantly expanded its Ethereum (ETH) holdings, solidifying its position as a major player in the digital asset space. This isn’t just another investment; it’s a monumental endorsement from one of the world’s largest financial institutions, signaling a pivotal shift in how traditional finance views decentralized assets. The implications of BlackRock’s ETH acquisition reverberate across the entire crypto ecosystem, from market sentiment to future institutional adoption. What Does BlackRock’s Massive ETH Stake Truly Mean? According to detailed insights from Arkham Intelligence, shared widely across platforms like X, BlackRock recently made a substantial purchase of $375 million worth of ETH this week alone. This latest acquisition dramatically boosts their total Ethereum portfolio, bringing their cumulative holdings to an astonishing 2.46% of the entire Ethereum supply. To put that into perspective, this translates to an estimated $11.32 billion in ETH under BlackRock’s management. This staggering figure underscores not just the scale of their investment, but also their conviction in Ethereum’s long-term value proposition. Such a significant stake by a firm of BlackRock’s caliber sends a clear message: Ethereum is no longer a fringe asset but a legitimate, strategic component of a diversified investment portfolio. This move by BlackRock into ETH further cements the institutional embrace of digital assets. How Does BlackRock’s ETH Investment Validate the Crypto Space? BlackRock’s deep dive into Ethereum serves as a powerful beacon of institutional validation for the broader cryptocurrency market. For years, crypto assets struggled to shed their ‘wild west’ image, often dismissed by traditional finance due to volatility and perceived lack of regulation. However, when an institution with over $10 trillion in assets under management, like BlackRock, makes such a decisive move, it fundamentally alters this narrative. Enhanced Legitimacy: BlackRock’s involvement lends immense credibility to Ethereum and the crypto space. It signals to other institutional investors, pension funds, and sovereign wealth funds that digital assets are becoming a viable, even attractive, investment class. Capital Inflow: The sheer volume of BlackRock’s investment highlights the potential for massive capital inflows from traditional finance. This influx can provide greater liquidity and stability to the market, reducing the dramatic price swings often associated with cryptocurrencies. Reduced Volatility: As more institutional money enters the market, the overall market capitalization grows, potentially leading to more mature and less volatile price action for assets like ETH. Wider Adoption: BlackRock’s move paves the way for increased retail and institutional adoption, as their stamp of approval can alleviate concerns for more cautious investors. This scenario mirrors the transformative impact seen with the approval and success of Bitcoin Spot ETFs, many of which BlackRock also manages. The entry of such a financial giant suggests a growing comfort level with the regulatory and operational complexities of managing digital assets, setting a precedent for others to follow, particularly concerning BlackRock ETH holdings. Beyond Bitcoin: Why is Ethereum Attracting BlackRock’s Gaze? While Bitcoin often captures headlines as ‘digital gold,’ Ethereum offers a fundamentally different, yet equally compelling, value proposition that clearly resonates with institutions like BlackRock. Ethereum is not merely a cryptocurrency; it is the foundational layer for an entire ecosystem of decentralized applications (dApps), often referred to as Web3. Smart Contract Powerhouse: Ethereum pioneered smart contracts, self-executing agreements whose terms are directly written into code. This innovation underpins decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and countless other blockchain-based applications, creating a vibrant and growing economy. DeFi and NFTs: The explosion of DeFi, which aims to replicate traditional financial services without intermediaries, and the booming NFT market, which enables digital ownership, largely runs on Ethereum. These sectors represent significant growth opportunities that traditional investors are keen to tap into. Proof-of-Stake (PoS) Transition: Ethereum’s successful transition from Proof-of-Work (PoW) to Proof-of-Stake (PoS) with ‘The Merge’ significantly reduced its energy consumption, making it a more environmentally friendly asset. This aligns with increasing ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) mandates for institutional investors. PoS also offers staking yields, providing a potential passive income stream for large holders like BlackRock. Scalability Roadmap: While Ethereum has faced scalability challenges, its ongoing development roadmap, including sharding and the proliferation of Layer 2 solutions, promises enhanced transaction speeds and lower fees, addressing key concerns for enterprise-level adoption. BlackRock’s decision to accumulate such a substantial amount of ETH indicates a strategic belief in Ethereum’s long-term utility, its technological superiority for decentralized applications, and its potential to reshape global financial infrastructure. This strategic accumulation of BlackRock ETH is a testament to Ethereum’s potential. Are There Any Hurdles with BlackRock’s ETH Dominance? While BlackRock’s significant ETH stake is largely positive, it’s crucial to acknowledge potential challenges and considerations that arise with such concentrated institutional ownership. Centralization Concerns: When a single entity holds a substantial portion of an asset’s supply, it can raise concerns about centralization. While Ethereum’s network is decentralized, a large holder could theoretically influence governance proposals or market dynamics. However, BlackRock’s role is primarily as an asset manager, acting on behalf of clients, which mitigates some of these concerns. Regulatory Scrutiny: Increased institutional involvement inevitably attracts more attention from regulators worldwide. While this can lead to clearer guidelines, it also means greater scrutiny on how these assets are managed, reported, and taxed. BlackRock, being a highly regulated entity, navigates these waters carefully, which could set standards for others. Market Impact and Transparency: While large institutional buys can stabilize the market, they can also cause short-term price volatility if trades are not executed carefully. The transparency offered by blockchain analytics firms like Arkham Intelligence helps shed light on these movements, but the sheer size of these holdings warrants ongoing observation. Custody and Security: Managing billions of dollars in digital assets requires sophisticated custody solutions and robust security protocols to prevent hacks or loss. BlackRock’s choice of custodians and security measures will be critical benchmarks for the industry. These challenges are not insurmountable and are often part of the maturation process for any emerging asset class. BlackRock’s participation, with its inherent regulatory compliance and operational rigor, can actually help address some of these issues by setting best practices for managing BlackRock ETH and other digital assets. What’s Next for BlackRock ETH and the Crypto Market? BlackRock’s substantial ETH acquisition is more than just a headline; it’s a potential harbinger of a new era for institutional engagement with Ethereum and the broader crypto market. What can we expect moving forward? Accelerated Institutional Adoption: BlackRock’s move is likely to inspire other major asset managers, hedge funds, and corporate treasuries to seriously consider adding ETH to their portfolios. The ‘fear of missing out’ (FOMO) combined with the comfort of seeing a giant like BlackRock lead the way could unlock unprecedented capital flows. Spot Ethereum ETF Potential: The growing institutional interest, spearheaded by BlackRock, significantly increases the likelihood of a Spot Ethereum ETF being approved by regulators like the SEC. A successful Bitcoin Spot ETF paved the way, and ETH’s strong fundamentals and institutional backing make it a prime candidate. An ETH ETF would provide an even more accessible and regulated avenue for traditional investors to gain exposure to Ethereum. Impact on ETH Price and Ecosystem: Continued institutional accumulation could lead to a significant long-term appreciation in ETH’s price, driven by increased demand and reduced circulating supply in the open market. Furthermore, this influx of capital and legitimacy could fuel further development within the Ethereum ecosystem, leading to more innovative dApps, improved infrastructure, and greater network utility. Actionable Insights for Investors: For individual investors, BlackRock’s move underscores the growing mainstream acceptance of Ethereum. While it’s tempting to follow big players, always remember to conduct your own thorough research (DYOR). Consider ETH as a long-term investment, understanding its role as the backbone of Web3. Diversification remains key, and staying informed about regulatory developments and technological advancements within the Ethereum network is crucial. The continued growth of BlackRock ETH holdings will be a key indicator for future market trends. BlackRock’s strategic accumulation of 2.46% of the total Ethereum supply marks a truly monumental moment for the cryptocurrency industry. This isn’t merely an investment; it’s a profound vote of confidence from one of the world’s most influential financial institutions, signaling Ethereum’s undeniable rise as a mainstream asset. This significant BlackRock ETH stake validates the crypto space, paves the way for further institutional adoption, and underscores Ethereum’s unique position as the backbone of decentralized finance and Web3. While challenges exist, the overall trajectory points towards a future where digital assets play an increasingly vital role in global portfolios. The era of institutional crypto is not just arriving; it’s here, and BlackRock is leading the charge with Ethereum. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Q1: What does BlackRock’s 2.46% ETH holding mean? A1: It means BlackRock, a major asset manager, now holds approximately $11.32 billion worth of Ethereum, representing 2.46% of the entire ETH supply. This is a significant institutional investment, signaling strong confidence in Ethereum’s future. Q2: How does BlackRock’s investment impact the crypto market? A2: BlackRock’s substantial BlackRock ETH investment provides significant institutional validation, enhances market legitimacy, can attract more capital inflows from traditional finance, and potentially reduce market volatility, paving the way for wider adoption. Q3: Why did BlackRock choose Ethereum (ETH) for such a large investment? A3: Ethereum attracts institutional interest due to its foundational role in decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and Web3 applications. Its transition to Proof-of-Stake also makes it more energy-efficient and offers staking yields, aligning with institutional investment criteria. Q4: Could BlackRock’s large ETH holdings lead to centralization concerns? A4: While large holdings by any single entity can raise centralization questions, BlackRock acts as an asset manager for various clients. Their highly regulated nature and the transparency provided by blockchain analytics help mitigate some of these concerns, often setting industry best practices. Q5: Will BlackRock’s ETH acquisition lead to a Spot Ethereum ETF? A5: BlackRock’s significant BlackRock ETH acquisition, alongside growing institutional interest, substantially increases the likelihood of a Spot Ethereum ETF being approved by regulators. This would offer traditional investors a more accessible and regulated way to invest in ETH. Was this article helpful in understanding the monumental impact of BlackRock’s Ethereum acquisition? Share your thoughts and this article with your network on social media to spread awareness about the evolving landscape of institutional crypto adoption! To learn more about the latest Ethereum trends, explore our article on key developments shaping Ethereum’s institutional adoption . This post BlackRock’s Monumental ETH Acquisition: A Game-Changer for Ethereum? first appeared on BitcoinWorld and is written by Editorial Team
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Cboe BZX filed to list a Solana ETF on Wednesday, advancing a second U.S. staking-enabled fund even as the SEC delays on similar products.
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JPMorgan is taking a step further into the crypto space by forging a strategic partnership with Coinbase to make it quicker and much easier for the bank’s over 80 million customers to buy crypto, a key step in bridging traditional finance with digital assets. JPMorgan Taps Coinbase For Major Crypto Offering The deal between crypto
A recently released U.S. government report has reignited interest across the crypto sector, not because of a policy announcement or a new enforcement action, but because the document mentioned Ripple, the company associated with XRP, the third-largest cryptocurrency. The mention gained traction after crypto researcher SMQKE shared a screenshot of the document on X, drawing attention to Ripple’s presence. Ripple was listed in a timeline featured in the “Strengthening American Leadership in Digital Financial Technology” report, tracking the evolution of cryptocurrency and digital asset adoption. The mention appears in a multi-phase chart mapping the industry’s development from 2008 to the present, with projections extending beyond 2025. Ripple mentioned in the White House Crypto Report. pic.twitter.com/Kuin6nto2l — SMQKE (@SMQKEDQG) July 30, 2025 The timeline validates what many in the XRP community have long argued. They believe Ripple is one of the foundational players in the history of cryptocurrency. Positioned under the “First Trading” segment spanning 2011 to 2013, Ripple is listed alongside other prominent early platforms like Coinbase, Kraken, and Bitstamp. This period marks what the report calls “the early years,” when Bitcoin began its ascent and altcoins started to emerge. Early Recognition and Market Foundations Ripple’s appearance during this foundational phase is not incidental. According to the report, the 2011 to 2013 era was defined by the emergence of trading infrastructure, increased miner activity, and the introduction of early altcoin ecosystems. Ripple, which was founded in 2012, fits squarely into that context. We are on X, follow us to connect with us :- @TimesTabloid1 — TimesTabloid (@TimesTabloid1) June 15, 2025 The company introduced XRP to the public , and many investors flocked to it because of its numerous advantages over Bitcoin. The XRP Ledger (XRPL) introduced a consensus mechanism distinct from Bitcoin’s proof-of-work. It focuses on enabling fast and cheap transactions. Some in the crypto community also believe XRP’s code was written before Bitcoin , potentially giving the asset a more foundational role in the market. Since then, Ripple and XRP have grown significantly. They are both playing prominent roles in the crypto sector and the global cross-border payments market. 2025 and Beyond More revealing is the projection segment labeled “2025 & Beyond,” which outlines expected developments in the crypto sector’s future. Here, the focus shifts to stability, regulation, and increased institutional integration, leading to broader adoption and the rise of tokenization and stablecoins. Ripple and XRP can play major roles here, as XRP is an attractive asset to institutional investors and a big name in the tokenization space . XRP also has regulatory clarity, as the court ruling in July 2023, which determined it is not a security, sets it apart from other assets. Ripple has become a major player in the stablecoin space through RLUSD , and this recognition could indicate that XRP’s role in the financial digital future is no longer in question. Disclaimer : This content is meant to inform and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author’s personal opinions and do not represent Times Tabloid’s opinion. Readers are advised to conduct thorough research before making any investment decisions. Any action taken by the reader is strictly at their own risk. Times Tabloid is not responsible for any financial losses. Follow us on X , Facebook , Telegram , and Google News The post Ripple Mentioned in the White House Crypto Report appeared first on Times Tabloid .
Summary Circle is a pure-play on stablecoin infrastructure, benefiting from regulatory clarity and institutional trust, but currently trades at a high valuation. USDC’s compliance, transparency, and integration with traditional finance position Circle as the leading U.S.-regulated stablecoin issuer, especially post-GENIUS Act. Key risks include heavy reliance on interest income, macroeconomic sensitivity, and revenue-sharing with Coinbase, which limits profitability and diversification. My recommendation is Hold at current levels, Buy on dips for long-term investors, as Circle offers significant upside for those patient with short-term volatility. Introduction From its IPO price of $31 on June 5, 2025, Circle Internet Group (CRCL) surged over 600%, hitting intraday highs of nearly $300 just weeks after being listed. Even after a pullback, the stock still trades around ~$195, showing that high expectations are still present due to Circle’s central role in the future of digital finance. However, with such a fast increase, many investors are asking: Is this valuation justified? Or is CRCL caught up in the momentum of crypto’s current bull cycle? CRCL is the sole issuer of USDC, a fully backed, U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin used for trading, payments, decentralized finance (DeFi), and tokenized assets. A stablecoin is a type of cryptocurrency designed to maintain a fixed value. Since it’s pegged to the U.S. dollar, it has a 1:1 exchange rate with the dollar and is backed by reserves to keep its price stable. Currently, USDC is integrated across almost every major blockchain and crypto exchange and has earned itself a strong reputation for its safety and compliance. Other than issuing USDC, Circle also earns revenue from interest income on its reserve assets (mostly short-term Treasuries), infrastructure APIs for payment and smart contracts, and institutional partnerships. Their mission is to “raise global economic prosperity through the frictionless exchange of value.” Their Co-founder, Chief Executive Officer & Chairman, Jeremy Allaire, says “If you could take what we think of as money, make it digital and available on the internet, then that would dramatically change the way we use money and open up opportunity around the world. That’s the idea behind Circle.” In 2024, Circle generated $1.68 billion in revenue, mainly from interest income on USDC reserves. However, its net income fell to just ~$155.7 million, a near 42% drop from the previous year of $268 million, indicating margin pressure and reinvestment into growth. The company currently trades at over 22x sales and a forward P/E of ~100, highlighting the high-growth expectations already priced into the stock. For 2025, analysts forecast revenue growth of over 50%, with projections nearing $2.6 billion in revenue for Circle, as stablecoin adoption rises and real-world integrations begin to contribute even more to growth. Based on the balance sheet, Circle looks good with no long-term debt, and they’ve got a healthy amount of cash due to the way they manage the reserves backing USDC. They’re still generating free cash flow, even though it may be affected by short-term interest rates. TradingView Today, CRCL is currently trading at $193, a ~20% drop from the most recent high just over a week prior. There’s a support level at ~$175 and a resistance level at ~$240, giving the bounds for the current range. It’s currently consolidating in that range, and if there’s a breakout from $240, we can expect to see a push to around $300. However, currently CRCL’s volume has fallen off and the stock looks to be range-bound for the near future, suggesting that price action is currently cooling off after the recent period of high volatility. Relative Strength Indicator ((RSI)) for CRCL is currently at 54.31, indicating neutral to slightly bullish price movement. While the recent momentum definitely has helped Circle, it’s not the only thing that will influence and contribute to its success. The recent passage of the GENIUS Act, a regulatory framework for stablecoins represents a major tailwind for USDC. As the global crypto economy grows and more institutions look for regulated and transparent stablecoin infrastructure, Circle will be at the front, positioned well to become the glue of on-chain finance. Unlike speculative tokens such as Bitcoin (BTC-USD), or Ethereum (ETH-USD), Circle’s real-world revenue, regulatory moat, and integration with traditional finance make CRCL a strong long-term infrastructure play. In this article, I’ll break down Circle’s business model, stablecoin economics, regulatory tailwinds, and valuation concerns while arguing that CRCL may become the most important infrastructure stock within the crypto economy. Circle’s Business Model Circle Internet Group’s core business revolves around their stablecoin, USDC. USDC is the second-largest stablecoin by market cap and an important part of the crypto ecosystem. The majority of their revenue (over 95%) comes from interest earned on the reserves backing USDC. These reserves are primarily invested in high-quality, short-duration assets such as U.S. Treasury bills and cash equivalents. In other words, Circle acts sort of like a bank. As users mint or redeem USDC, Circle manages the underlying funds and collects the interest on those reserves. This interest income is the backbone of Circle’s business model, and in 2025, analysts project them to generate $2.2 to 2.6 billion in revenue, a ~30-40% increase from 2024. Evidently, this business model comes with significant exposure to interest rate fluctuations. For instance, a 100 basis point drop (1%) in short-term interest rates could remove around $700 million from Circle’s projected revenue in 2025. That’s nearly a quarter being taken off just due to rate cuts. Given central banks’ recent signals pointing towards possible rate cuts later this year in 2025, investors need to be mindful of how such changes could affect Circle’s core model. A major element of Circle’s business model is its partnership with Coinbase (COIN), which is one of the largest and most prominent cryptocurrency companies in the world. They serve as the primary USDC distributor, and with that, they also take a portion of Circle’s interest revenue - up to 60% depending on USDC volume on Coinbase’s platform. Essentially in 2024, out of their $1.68 billion revenue, over $900 million was paid out to Coinbase. While this partnership is incredibly important to expanding USDC’s reach and usage, it also limits Circle’s gross profit margin and limits the company’s ability to reinvest into growth or diversify its revenue streams. However, realizing these issues, Circle is actively exploring ways to broaden its revenue streams. It’s begun rolling out Treasury services for businesses, which enable them to hold and transact with USDC more efficiently. On top of that, Circle also offers programmable payments and APIs to facilitate blockchain integrations for customers. Despite being in early stages, these initiatives could provide fee-based and service revenue streams that lessen its reliance on interest income over time. From a competitive standpoint, USDC holds an edge thanks to Circle’s transparency and regulatory compliance. In an ecosystem where many regulators are deeply examining stablecoins and their possible risks, Circle’s commitment to transparency offers it a significant moat. This has helped USDC gradually get more users, especially compared to competitors like Tether (USDT-USD), which has faced criticism and regulatory headwinds due to a lack of transparency about its reserves. Overall, Circle’s business model is tightly tied to interest income from USDC reserves and heavily influenced by macroeconomic conditions and its revenue-sharing deal with Coinbase. That said, this setup could backfire if rates drop. USDC’s Position in the Stablecoin Market Stablecoins have become the backbone of the crypto economy, being used in trillions of dollars' worth of on-chain transactions annually, from trading and lending to remittances and on-off ramps. Within such a rapidly growing space, USDC stands out not just as the second largest stablecoin by market capitalization, but as the one most trusted by institutions and regulators alike. Q. Chen, with data from Messari USDC currently has a circulating supply of roughly $64 billion. According to CRCL’s S-1 filing, Circle has minted $558 billion of USDC and redeemed more than $502 billion from January 1, 2021, to March 31, 2025. This means that from March 2025 to today, ~$8 billion of USDC has entered the circulating supply. Compared to USDT, which has a circulating supply of ~$163 billion, USDC has a market share of around 26% among the top fiat-backed stablecoins. While that may appear small compared to USDT, USDC’s use cases are primarily within situations that require transparency, compliance, and reliability, which you won’t find with Tether. It’s used in DeFi protocols, U.S.-based exchanges, and fintech partnerships. For instance, USDC is the top stablecoin used on major Ethereum DeFi platforms like Aave and Compound, and it's become the preferred choice for compliant dollar transfers in Circle’s treasury services for businesses. USDT, on the other hand, continues to be dominant in offshore markets and high-frequency trading, despite its unclear reserve practices and poor regulatory track record. As regulators begin becoming more strict when it comes to stablecoins, Tether’s lack of information may leave it vulnerable to losing market share. Circle has done the opposite when it comes to this matter; they maintain monthly attestations, public reserve audits, and full backing by short-term U.S. treasuries and cash equivalents, giving users safety that’s usually hard to find in crypto. Bitwise Asset Management with data from Coin Metrics. Data From Q1 2020 to Q2 2025 According to a recent report from Bitwise Asset Management, they state that “stablecoins are going parabolic,” with both market capitalization and transaction volumes reaching all-time highs. As you can see in the chart, USDC has more stablecoin transactions than any other stablecoin, despite not having the most market capitalization. This means, from a usage standpoint, they are in the lead. Another thing that Circle is doing is that it’s laying the groundwork for future real-world integration. They are building tools such as programmable wallets that allow businesses and developers to use USDC in practical ways. In addition to that, they hold partnerships with known companies like Visa (V), Shopify (SHOP), and MoneyGram, which all showcase their commitment to expanding the usage of their token. Circle has also recently launched USDC on more chains like Solana and Base, expanding the token’s presence in the crypto world. Solana enables ultra-fast, low-cost transactions ideal for consumer-based apps, while Base, developed by Coinbase, is focused on onboarding the next wave of users into the Ethereum ecosystem. USDC isn’t trying to beat USDT in total market share, they are just better in places where trust, compliance, and transparent usage are the most important. As more regulatory frameworks begin developing globally, Circle is in the perfect position to get a large share of stablecoin growth, even if it’s not the biggest by market capitalization. In a recent research note, JPMorgan strategists wrote that stablecoins will likely be “integrated with the traditional financial system, as well as more tokenization of real-world assets.” This aligns very closely with exactly what Circle is attempting to achieve. The GENIUS Act: A Regulatory Tailwind for Circle There are few developments that have the potential to affect the stablecoin industry the way the GENIUS Act will. Signed into law in July 2025 with bipartisan support and backing from the Trump administration, this bill is the first time that the U.S. has laid out a clear federal framework for payment stablecoins. The GENIUS Act requires that issuers of payment stablecoins hold 100% reserves in cash or short-term Treasury securities, undergo routine audits, enable daily redemptions at par, and register with federal or state regulators. The law also blocks algorithmic and rehypothecated stablecoins from being marketed as “payment stablecoins,” basically stopping a bunch of riskier players from gaining any regulatory advantage. This bill essentially put into law what Circle was already doing all along. USDC has been backed 1:1 with cash and Treasuries already, with documentation and disclosures that go beyond what this new law enforces. This makes Circle one of the few companies that are immediately compliant, while others, such as Tether, may struggle to conform to these new policies or risk having no market share in the U.S. Circle is one of the few firms that already had the systems in place to take advantage of the GENIUS Act from day one. They have a New York BitLicense, are a registered money transmitter in multiple states, and have partnerships with financial firms like BlackRock, Fidelity ( FIS ), BNY Mellon, Worldpay, and Nuvei. Circle’s early compliance was a bet on the direction of crypto’s regulatory future, and now that bet is paying off. This act may also change the way financial institutions approach stablecoins. Banks, brokerages, fintech apps, and payment processors that previously were unwilling to interact with crypto have now been given a legal green light to proceed. In that, Circle is the clear default and first choice for those who want to integrate stablecoin rails into their systems. Essentially, this law now pulls even more customers to Circle and their coin, USDC. However, that doesn’t mean the GENIUS Act is all upside. More regulation, capital requirements, and compliance costs may raise the barrier to entry and negatively affect margins over time for many players. Luckily, Circle is way better positioned than others to turn those headwinds into competitive advantages. If regulation becomes the price to entry, Circle is already at the front. The reason this is so important is because, for investors, this act gives Circle an asymmetric effect on their growth. Many of Circle’s competitors may restructure, de-risk, or exit the U.S. market altogether, but Circle has an open path to expand, get institutional clients, and further their influence in the digital finance space. Specifically for Circle, we can see the GENIUS Act as the boost that will further propel it into the future. Circle’s Valuation Circle’s valuation has drawn mixed reactions, with many critics quick to argue that the company is priced way beyond its fundamentals. At a current valuation of ~$45 billion, Circle trades at a premium compared to traditional fintech and even many large-cap crypto firms. The company currently is trading at a ttm price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of ~600 and a forward price-to-earnings ratio (next fiscal year) of ~100. This multiple is incredibly high for a business whose profitability is heavily influenced by short-term interest rates, especially as central banks plan to lower rates into the second half of 2025. Q. Chen, with data from Finviz.com As you can see from the chart, you can get an idea of how outlandish CRCL’s valuations really are currently compared to public crypto/fintech peers. Included are PayPal (PYPL), COIN, Robinhood (HOOD), and SoFi Technologies (SOFI). But P/E doesn’t give the entire picture because Circle is in high-growth mode and not consistently profitable. Due to that, I also included ttm price-to-sales (P/S) to give a more accurate representation because it’s comparing the stock price to the company’s revenue. From this standpoint, CRCL’s valuation doesn’t look so insane. With a P/S of 22.71, it's right on par with that of HOOD, whose P/S is slightly higher at 28.23. P/S is the most appropriate out of all valuation metrics in this situation because Circle’s net income is highly volatile and not yet normalized, due to its current dependence on macro cycles and early stages. Circle isn’t just a standard business. Investors expecting normal multiples are looking at the wrong things. Circle is a pioneer. They are one of the only public pure plays on stablecoin infrastructure. They are also one of the few ways investors can get exposure to the backend of the crypto economy without taking direct risk on speculative tokens or exchange platforms. Unlike Coinbase, which is exposed to retail trading volume and crypto price volatility, Circle’s model is more tied to transaction rails and ecosystem usage. As more people enter the space, along with regulatory green lights, Circle’s valuations will begin to make more sense. Circle is definitely sensitive to macro factors. A drop in short-term yields could take hundreds of millions off its revenues. However, investors need to differentiate between short-term barriers and long-term growth. In the same way that early cloud computing stocks looked expensive on traditional metrics while building long-term success, Circle is also sacrificing short-term volatility in exchange for strong upside tied to the growth of global crypto finance. Another way to look at it is that Circle is building a Visa + SWIFT + PayPal all in one, within crypto. As a payment network enabling fast transactions, as infrastructure for cross-border money movement, and as a digital payment and wallet platform. When looking for companies to compare Circle to, there really aren’t many. And that’s the point. While Tether has a larger market cap, it’s offshore and lacks transparency. Coinbase may be the closest, but their revenues are more volatile and tied to retail trading volatility. PayPal and Stripe are dominant in fintech infrastructure, and Circle is doing that, but for an entirely new ecosystem that has recently gained more attention in the public eye. Critics will, however, continue to point to the P/E and P/S multiples and claim that it’s too high for a company with limited diversification and dependence on interest rates. That argument is not wrong, it’s just incomplete. Valuation is always a bet on the future, and Circle’s bet is that stablecoins will become the foundation of a global digitalized financial system. When looking at it from that perspective, today’s valuation may not just be understandable, but looking back, it may be even lower. Risks and Bearish Arguments Without a doubt, no serious investor should ignore the risks tied to Circle. This is a business still in its early stage, navigating a newer asset class and a new regulatory environment. But too often, critics argue that temporary volatility implies overall weakness. That misses the bigger picture. One big concern is Circle’s reliance on interest income. Over 90% of 2023 revenue came from the yield earned on reserves backing USDC. A 100 basis point rate cut would decrease earnings without a question. But in this situation, it’s just a case of market cycles, and most companies are vulnerable to these macro factors. Rates will go up and rates will come down. Circle is already making moves into other long-term revenue generators that’ll better their margins. Their goal is to simply build stable, dollar-denominated infrastructure for the coming digital currency age. There’s also another popular argument that revolves around Coinbase. Specifically, Circle’s revenue-sharing agreement that sends up to 60% of their income to Coinbase for holding USDC on its platform. Yes, this decreases gross margin. But this is what a partnership looks like. Circle is the issuer, and Coinbase is the distributor. USDC was created with a purpose in mind, and Coinbase was the vehicle that helped and allowed USDC to scale. As Circle continues to expand and grow through new channels like Robinhood and Stripe, we can expect the dependency to decrease. Another concern is its inferiority to Tether in terms of market share. What caused this massive difference between the two stablecoin giants? Circle’s decision to offboard USDC from several blockchains. This includes Tron, Algorand, and Stellar, and many more. However, their goal was aimed at reducing compliance risk and focusing on more trusted ecosystems like Ethereum, Solana, and Base. While this did help its regulatory profile, it hurt USDC’s multi-chain liquidity and reduced its presence in rapidly growing and low-fee networks. Meanwhile, USDT remained multi-chain, particularly on Tron, which is widely used for low-cost transfers in emerging markets. This helped USDT dominate more in regions like Asia and Latin America, where regulations are much more relaxed and people value speed and accessibility. Despite this, we must remember that Circle’s goal is to continue to operate under compliance standards and gain the trust of regulators, banks, and large institutions who want to pivot into stablecoins, not chase short-term adoption in loosely regulated markets at the expense of long-term strength. Conclusion Circle gives investors a unique opportunity—a pure play on the growth of blockchain infrastructure, stablecoin adoption, and the future of tokenized finance. This company gives you a chance to invest in the next digital era without all the speculation you get with meme coins or crypto mining. However, it doesn’t come without risks. The current business model is heavily reliant on one revenue stream, which leaves them exposed to interest rate fluctuations. In addition, revenue sharing also limits their profitability. And their market share, though hefty, still trails Tether by a large amount. I agree that these are present issues, but I argue that they only matter in the short to medium term. In addition, the GENIUS Act’s recent passage marks an important moment. It gives the kind of regulatory clearance that Circle has been pushing for and positions USDC as the stablecoin that the U.S. is ready to support. We’re entering an era in history where digital dollars and tokenized assets are becoming important to both institutional and retail users. As capital continues to flow into crypto ecosystems, whether it’s DeFi, gaming, payments, or real-world assets, the infrastructure providers with the most clarity and backing will benefit the most. Valuation is undeniably high. But so was PayPal in its early days, and so was Visa. For those who believed in the early stages, they were rewarded generously despite not waiting for perfect multiples, which is something that’s already very hard to find in today’s market. Their success came from identifying infrastructure that would influence the world in a big way before everyone else did. That’s the core of my thesis. Circle is an early, imperfect, and short-term volatile play. However, I believe it’s moving in the right direction despite all the critics. Given that information, my current recommendation is a Hold at current levels, with a Buy on dips strategy for long-term investors. Volatility should be expected, both from the stock itself and from crypto. However, Circle offers great upside for those willing to sit through the short-term headwinds. If capital continues to flow into digital assets, there’s no better company than Circle to ride that wave as a leader in crypto infrastructure. Until then, patience and diligence will be vital for those willing to make the bet. We would like to thank QX Chen for this piece.
China’s central bank stepped in on Thursday, July 31, to stop the yuan from sliding further after the currency dropped to its weakest point in two months against the U.S. dollar. The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) set its daily yuan reference rate around 7.15 per dollar, its biggest deviation from analyst expectations since late April. The yuan had come under new stress after Jerome Powell, the chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve, kept markets guessing by refusing to commit to any rate cuts in September. His comments pushed the dollar up to its highest level since early June. That rise quickly tested confidence among investors who had been betting that the yuan would gain strength in the near term. Hedge funds started backing away from short-dollar trades, and the yuan’s fall accelerated, prompting Beijing to respond. While the central bank had taken a lighter touch in May and June, when the yuan was faring better, it decided to act this time to limit volatility. Analysts flag yuan pressure as offshore rate rebounds slightly Khoon Goh, who leads Asia research at Australia & New Zealand Banking Group, said the PBOC’s intervention was clearly aimed at stabilizing the situation. “Authorities do not want too much volatility in the currency,” Goh said, explaining that the fixing rate was chosen to limit further weakness despite strong dollar momentum. The offshore yuan responded by gaining 0.2% on Thursday, climbing to 7.1991 per dollar after touching 7.2146 the previous day, the weakest since the first week of June. That bounce came as other regional currencies, like the Singapore dollar, also held their ground. But many others in Asia slipped further under the weight of overnight gains in the greenback. Expectations earlier in July had leaned in favor of a stronger yuan, with research from Morgan Stanley, UBS Global Wealth Management, and Deutsche Bank predicting that the currency would hit 7.1 or even fall below that. Instead, the combination of Powell’s comments and trade momentum benefiting the U.S. flipped the narrative. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index jumped sharply on Wednesday after Powell said no decisions had been made yet about a September rate move. His tone was more hawkish than many expected, and traders quickly reduced their bets on U.S. rate cuts in 2025. Fiona Lim, a senior strategist at Malayan Banking Berhad, said the dollar’s resurgence caught many investors off guard. “Markets were caught wrong-footed on the dollar when Powell sounded more hawkish than expected,” Lim said, adding that China’s use of its daily fixing rate was a signal that the PBOC is still prioritizing currency stability while giving markets some space to operate. In effect, Beijing is walking a tightrope, intervening enough to keep the yuan from crashing, but not so much that it disrupts overall trading behavior. Trade and inflation outlooks shape central bank decisions across Asia Derek Holt, who leads capital markets economics at Scotiabank, warned that there could be limited room for easing U.S. monetary policy in the near term. “If, however, tariffs continue to pass through into inflation with reasonably resilient payrolls at a lower breakeven rate in light of more restrictive immigration policy, then the Committee’s willingness to cut in September is likely to remain low,” Holt said. That scenario points to continued strength in the dollar, especially if inflation stays elevated and job markets hold up; two variables that directly affect how currencies like the yuan behave. The U.S. dollar has now extended its winning streak to near a two-month high, causing disruptions across multiple Asian market s. In China, the central bank’s decision to deviate sharply from analyst expectations underlines just how sensitive the currency landscape has become in 2025, especially under Donald Trump’s administration and its renewed emphasis on protective trade deals. Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, the local currency stayed dangerously close to the weaker end of its fixed band against the U.S. dollar. Despite repeated moves by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority to defend the currency, the Hong Kong dollar traded just pips away from breaching its lower threshold. Want your project in front of crypto’s top minds? Feature it in our next industry report, where data meets impact.
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