The Circle IPO launch has officially begun, signaling a new chapter for one of crypto’s biggest players. On Wednesday, Circle, the issuer of USD Coin (USDC), debuted on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker CRCL.
Circle is offering 24 million Class A shares. Of these, 9.6 million come directly from Circle, while 1.44 million come from existing shareholders. The company expects the price to range from $24 to $26 per share.
This move follows a confidential SEC filing in 2024. Previously, Circle had tried to go public in 2022 through a SPAC merger, which ultimately failed. Since then, the company has remained active in seeking alternatives. Reports also suggested informal acquisition talks with Coinbase and Ripple Labs.
Founded in 2013, Circle began as a blockchain-based financial company. Today, it focuses on integrating digital currency tools into business and finance applications. Most notably, it issues USD Coin, a stablecoin pegged closely to the U.S. dollar.
Stablecoins like USDC help users bridge between traditional currencies and volatile cryptocurrencies. By market cap, USDC is the second-largest stablecoin globally, behind Tether (USDT). As of this week, USDC’s market value stands at $61.4 billion, according to CoinMarketCap.
Despite some uncertainty earlier this year, Circle pushed ahead with its public debut. In April, the company filed an S-1 with the SEC. There were brief concerns about possible delays due to tariffs and global financial tensions, but the offering moved forward.
Regulatory sentiment in the U.S. has also shifted recently. Agencies like the FDIC and the Federal Reserve have softened their previous crypto restrictions. Now, banks and financial institutions have greater freedom to work with crypto assets.
The Circle IPO launch marks the largest crypto-related listing since Coinbase’s debut on Nasdaq in 2021. It signals rising investor confidence in digital finance.
As the Circle IPO launch moves forward, many will watch how Wall Street responds to another major crypto company entering public markets.
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