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Circle’s (CRCL) strong trading volumes noted by Mizuho as it raises price target

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Middle East tensions, higher oil boost Circle (CRCL) shares as rate-cut odds fade: Mizuho

Circle’s (CRCL) USDC has overtaken Tether’s USDT in transaction volumes for the first time since 2019, prompting Japanese investment bank Mizuho to raise its price target for the stablecoin issuer to $120 from $100, while reiterating its neutral rating on the stock.

The shares rose 1% in early trading to $115.40 and are up roughly 95% from their February lows.

Analysts Dan Dolev and Alexander Jenkins increased their Circle estimates, citing “USDC activity trends and use cases like Polymarket or agentic commerce expectations.”

Stablecoins, digital tokens backed by reserves such as fiat currency or gold, serve as key payment and settlement rails in the crypto economy, particularly for trading and cross-border transfers. The sector is dominated by Tether’s USDT with a $143 billion market cap, followed by Circle’s USDC at $78 billion.

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According to their Friday report, USDC has recorded about $2.2 trillion in adjusted transaction volume so far in 2026, compared with $1.3 trillion for USDT. That gives USDC roughly 64% share of adjusted volumes, a sharp reversal from 2019–2025 when Tether consistently led, and USDC averaged about a 30% share.

The analysts said the shift matters because the long-term winner among stablecoins will likely be determined by real economic usage rather than market capitalization alone. Standard Chartered expects the stablecoin market cap to reach $2 trillion by the end of 2028.

Reflecting stronger USDC activity and expanding use cases, the Mizuho analysts raised several long-term Circle forecasts. They now expect “meaningful wallets” to reach 11.7 million by 2027, up from a prior estimate of 10 million, helping lift projected USDC market capitalization to $139 billion from $123 billion.

Circle has outperformed other crypto-linked equities recently.

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William Blair analysts said in a Thursday note that while recent gains could easily be linked to rising oil prices and a potentially more hawkish Federal Reserve, other factors are likely driving the move.

They pointed instead to the resilience of USDC’s market capitalization despite the broader crypto downturn, along with increasing investor recognition of Circle’s economic model and its leadership in stablecoin infrastructure.

Other analysts pointed to a positioning-driven short squeeze rather than fundamentals as the driver of the recent move higher in the shares.

While the company delivered strong growth in USDC supply, the stock’s outsized reaction post earnings was driven more by crowded short bets heading into the print than by strong financials, according to Markus Thielen, founder of 10x Research.

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Read more: Circle’s outperformance highlights USDC’s staying power, says bullish Wall Street analyst

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Crypto World

Circle Stock Surges as Stablecoins Expand; Canaan Boosts Bitcoin Holdings

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Circle Stock Surges as Stablecoins Expand; Canaan Boosts Bitcoin Holdings

A selloff in both Wall Street and crypto markets hasn’t slowed Circle’s relentless rise. The stablecoin issuer’s stock has more than doubled since early February, with Bernstein analysts expecting further gains as stablecoins continue expanding beyond crypto’s more speculative use cases.

The technology is already moving deeper into traditional finance. UK insurance giant Aon recently piloted stablecoin payments for insurance premiums with Coinbase and Paxos, a move that could make cross-border premium payments faster and more efficient.

Elsewhere, Bitcoin (BTC) miner Canaan is taking a contrarian approach to treasury management, increasing its BTC holdings even as many competitors sell. And in traditional finance, Wells Fargo has filed a trademark for crypto-related services, suggesting large banks are still quietly preparing for deeper involvement in digital assets.

Circle stock surges on stablecoin tailwinds

Shares of stablecoin issuer Circle are rallying sharply in 2026 as Wall Street warms to the long-term growth story behind digital dollars. Analysts at Bernstein recently reiterated an “Outperform” rating on the stock, setting a $190 price target — roughly 60% above current levels.

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Circle’s stock price has already more than doubled since early February and is up roughly 49% year-to-date, outperforming both the S&P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index during the same period.

Bernstein’s bullish outlook hinges on accelerating stablecoin adoption across payments, financial infrastructure and onchain settlement. As the issuer of USDC (USDC), the world’s second-largest US dollar-pegged stablecoin, Circle is increasingly viewed as a key beneficiary of the industry’s push into mainstream finance.

USDC’s circulation reaches nearly $79 billion. Source: DeFiLlama

Canaan boosts Bitcoin reserves while other miners sell

Bitcoin miner Canaan is expanding its BTC treasury amid a market downturn, while many rival public mining companies are reducing their holdings.

The company mined 86 BTC in February, increasing its total Bitcoin holdings to 1,793 BTC. Canaan also reported holding 3,952 Ether (ETH), bringing its total crypto reserves to record levels.

The accumulation trend stands in contrast to much of the mining sector. Several publicly traded miners have sold significant portions of their Bitcoin reserves over the past several months as tighter margins and post-halving economics put pressure on balance sheets.

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Canaan, meanwhile, continues to expand its mining footprint, including operations in Texas — one of the largest mining hubs in the United States.

Canaan’s Bitcoin holdings keep rising. Source: BitcoinTreasuries.NET

Aon pilots stablecoin payments for insurance premiums

Global insurance broker Aon is exploring the use of stablecoins to settle insurance premiums, working with crypto companies Paxos and Coinbase on the initiative.

The goal is to streamline cross-border payments, which often involve multiple banks, currency conversions and settlement delays. Stablecoins could allow insurers and clients to move funds more quickly while reducing costs and processing time.

For the insurance industry, faster settlement could simplify premium collection, improve cash flow management and reduce the administrative work tied to international payments. It may also make it easier to handle large cross-border policies and reinsurance transactions.

The pilot reflects a broader trend of stablecoins use expanding beyond crypto trading into real-world financial use cases, particularly in areas where global payments remain slow and expensive.

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Wells Fargo files trademark for crypto services 

US banking giant Wells Fargo has filed a US trademark application for “WFUSD,” signaling potential plans to expand deeper into crypto services.

The filing covers a range of blockchain-related offerings, including crypto trading, payments, digital wallet services and software for staking and custody. It also references financial services built on distributed ledger technology.

The trademark is significant because Wells Fargo is the fourth-largest US bank, with about $1.95 trillion in assets as of Q3 2025, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Trademark filings don’t necessarily guarantee a product launch, but they often indicate areas companies are exploring. In this case, the scope suggests Wells Fargo may be evaluating crypto-based payments or a tokenized dollar product under the WFUSD name.

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Wells Fargo trademark application. Source: USPTO

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