Circle, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, made a highly anticipated entrance onto the public market on Thursday, with its stock (CRCL) skyrocketing as much as 200% during trading. The shares opened at approximately $69 and closed at $83.23, marking a remarkable 168% increase from the initial public offering (IPO) price of $31. The volatility was so pronounced that trading was halted multiple times throughout the day. Circle’s Market Cap Surpasses $16 Billion Following Stellar Debut By the end of the session, Circle’s market capitalization exceeded $16 billion, positioning the company as a major player in the cryptocurrency sector. The surge in stock value comes as Circle continues to assert itself as the second-largest stablecoin issuer, trailing only Tether, which boasts around $150 billion in circulation. Circle’s success is underpinned by its USDC stablecoin, which is dollar-backed and had approximately $60 billion in circulation at the end of the first quarter. The company reported a substantial revenue increase, totaling $578.6 million in the first three months of the year—a 58.5% rise compared to the previous year. Much of its revenue stems from “reserve income,” which includes earnings on cash held in banks or invested in Treasury bills . Additionally, Circle reported an adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, and Amortization (EBITA) of $122.4 million for the same quarter. CEO Hails Transformation Amid Cryptocurrency Revival The company previously attempted to go public via a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) in 2021 but ultimately abandoned those plans a year later. Now, with the cryptocurrency markets experiencing a revitalization—partly fueled by the political landscape and rising Bitcoin prices—Circle’s IPO has arrived at a propitious time. CEO Jeremy Allaire celebrated the company’s milestone on social media, expressing pride in Circle’s transformation into a public entity. “Twelve years ago, we set out to build a company that could help remake the global economic system,” he stated, emphasizing the mission to enhance global prosperity through seamless value exchange. Allaire also highlighted the commitment to transparency, compliance, and governance, which align with the high standards set by the New York Stock Exchange and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Allaire concluded by stating: To every single person, project and firm who’s been part of this journey, thank you. I am humbled and deeply grateful. This is not only a moment for each of us personally, I believe it’s a significant moment in the future development of our global economic system as it inexorably synthesizes with the internet. Despite Circle’s success, which is also a milestone for the broader cryptocurrency market, the digital asset market capitalization fell from $3.30 trillion to $3.12 trillion on Thursday. Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), saw declines of 3% and 7% respectively, showcasing the current state of the market after a major uptrend over the past two weeks. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
