Circle Shares Surge 15% to $134 Amid Strong IPO and Strategic Investments

Circle’s stock soared past $138 in early trading Monday, marking a 15% gain and extending its post-IPO rally. The stablecoin issuer’s shares have skyrocketed from their $31 debut price to an intraday high of $138.57, fueled by strategic investments from ARK Invest and Japan’s SBI Group.

SBI Holdings and SBI Shinsei Bank placed a $50 million bet on Circle, paving the way for USDC’s expansion into Japan’s tightly regulated crypto market. Meanwhile, Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest acquired 4.5 million shares worth $373 million, signaling growing institutional confidence in blockchain infrastructure plays.

The rally underscores intensifying competition in the stablecoin sector, where Circle’s USDC aims to challenge Tether’s dominance in Asia. Market momentum suggests bullish sentiment for crypto-adjacent equities as traditional finance deepens its embrace of digital assets.