Circle

Circle received state bank charters under the GENIUS Act and reported that the stablecoin USDC reached a market capitalization of $70–75 billion. CEO Jeremy Allaire forecasts possible growth of the stablecoin market to well over $1 trillion, and Circle announced a partnership with OKX to deepen USDC liquidity. Positive analyst commentary (Bernstein buy rating) and an optimistic congressional hearing contributed to the rally; the stock rose intraday to $96.66. » More on de.investing.com

Circle and its stablecoin brand USDC will be the main partner and official shirt sponsor of FC Chelsea from the 2026/27 season; the USDC logo will appear on the shirts of the men's, women's and youth teams and will be shown for the first time at the Premier League home match against Brighton. The partnership marks Circle's entry into elite sports sponsorship. Financial details were not disclosed. Circle operates USDC, offers the Circle Payments Network and Arc, and is listed on the NYSE under the ticker CRCL. » More on de.investing.com

Circle shares rose about 4.5% intraday to $94 after several price-target increases, including Goldman Sachs (from $71 to $81) and Wolfe Research (from $50 to $65), while Bernstein reaffirmed its buy rating with a $140 target and Susquehanna raised its target to $92. The recovery follows a decline after reports that U.S. banks like JPMorgan are exploring proprietary stablecoins, which had created near-term competitive risks for USDC. A favorable market backdrop for growth stocks and the stock’s high beta (around 2.1) amplified the rally, which saw the shares trade between $90.36 and $95.06. » More on de.investing.com