Circle prepares for IPO
Circle prepares for IPO
Circle, the company behind the USDC stablecoin, has officially confirmed its initial public offering (IPO) on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol CRCL. This move marks a strategic milestone for one of the most influential stablecoin issuers in the market, with over $60 billion USDC currently in circulation. The IPO will involve the sale of 24 million shares, with a target price between $24 and $26, potentially raising up to $624 million.
Among the interested investors is Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest, which has reportedly reserved $150 million worth of shares. If the deal prices at the higher end of the range, Circle could be valued at over $6.7 billion. The company had already attempted to go public via a SPAC in 2021, but that effort fell through due to regulatory uncertainty. This new filing comes at a much more favorable time for crypto companies, supported by a pro-blockchain stance from the Trump administration.
Jeremy Allaire, CEO of Circle, described this as a “moment of maturity” for the entire industry, noting that USDC is expected to play an increasingly central role in the global financial system. Circle has also secured multiple partnerships in recent months, notably with Visa and Solana, to integrate USDC into cross-border payments. The IPO aims to enhance the company’s financial transparency and give it the means to compete with Tether on the global stablecoin market.
Bybit secures MiCA license
Crypto platform Bybit continues its global expansion by obtaining the MiCA license in Austria, becoming one of the first exchanges to comply with the new European regulatory framework. This license allows Bybit to operate legally across all EU member states, a market of over 450 million people. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Dubai, Bybit plans to open its European headquarters in Vienna, starting with a team of 100 employees.
With the MiCA regulation taking effect in 2024, crypto players now face strict requirements regarding transparency, anti-money laundering, fund security, and internal governance. For Bybit, this license represents a major competitive advantage over rivals like Binance, which still faces restrictions in several European countries.
Ben Zhou, CEO of Bybit, emphasized that the company’s European strategy is a direct response to growing demand for regulated and accessible investment solutions. Bybit intends to play a central role in both innovation and compliance across the EU.
SEC srops lawsuit against binance
In an unexpected turn of events, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has dropped its lawsuit against Binance and its founder Changpeng Zhao. The announcement was made on May 28, with the case being dismissed “with prejudice,” meaning it cannot be reopened in the future. This decision marks a major turning point in the regulatory battle between U.S. authorities and the world’s largest crypto exchange.
The case involved serious allegations, including fraudulent management, unregistered financial services, and anti-money laundering violations. Binance had previously agreed in late 2023 to pay a record $4.3 billion fine in a global settlement with the Department of Justice. CZ had pleaded guilty to certain charges and served four months in a federal prison in California. The SEC’s closure of the case removes a significant obstacle to Binance’s legal normalization in the U.S.
For many observers, this outcome reflects a shift in the U.S. crypto policy tone. Dropping the charges boosts Binance’s legitimacy, allowing it to operate in a calmer regulatory environment. This positive signal could benefit the entire industry, as the U.S. redefines its global crypto strategy.
Satoshi Nakamoto now richer than Bill Gates
With Bitcoin’s recent surge, the fortune of its mysterious creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, has skyrocketed to approximately $119.3 billion. This estimate is based on the 1.096 million BTC Nakamoto is believed to have mined between 2009 and 2010, placing him at 11th place among the world’s wealthiest individuals—just ahead of Bill Gates.
This meteoric rise is even more impressive considering Nakamoto’s BTC has never been moved or sold, fueling the mystery and fascination surrounding the figure. While the value of these bitcoins remains theoretical as long as they stay untouched, their symbolic impact is immense. Nakamoto now outranks notable names like Michael Bloomberg and Françoise Bettencourt-Meyers, and is nearing the exclusive top-10 billionaire list.
No one knows whether Satoshi Nakamoto is an individual or a group, or if they are even still alive. This silence, combined with the immobility of the funds, only strengthens the myth. His virtual fortune embodies the extreme success of an open-source project, born from distrust in institutions and now a cornerstone of modern finance.