logo
Stablecoin bigwig Circle set to make its debut on the New York Stock Exchange

Stablecoin bigwig Circle set to make its debut on the New York Stock Exchange

Time of Indiaa day ago

Crypto enthusiasts will be watching the stock market Thursday as the U.S.-based issuer of one of most popular cryptocurrencies makes its debut on the New York Stock Exchange.
Circle Internet Group
issues USDC, a stablecoin that can be traded at a one-to-one ratio for U.S. dollars, and EURC, which can similarly be traded for euros.
Stablecoins are a fast-growing corner of the
cryptocurrency
industry that offer a buffer against volatility because they are pegged to real-world assets, like U.S. dollars or gold. That makes them a much more reliable means of conducting commercial transactions than other forms of crypto.
Interest in Circle's initial public offering is high. The company's underwriters priced the offering at $31 per share Wednesday, up from an expected price of $27 to $28. The number of shares being sold was raised to 34 million from 32 million. Circle will trade on the NYSE under the symbol "CRCL."
The dominant player in the stablecoin field is El Salvador-based Tether, which has the stablecoin known as USDT that currently has about $150 billion in circulation. USDC is the second most popular stablecoin market cap, with about $60 billion in circulation.
Live Events
Circle said in a regulatory filing that USDC has been used for more than "$25 trillion in onchain transactions" since its launch in 2018.
Discover the stories of your interest
Blockchain
5 Stories
Cyber-safety
7 Stories
Fintech
9 Stories
E-comm
9 Stories
ML
8 Stories
Edtech
6 Stories
Revenue-wise the company has seen tremendous growth, going from just $15 million in 2020 to $1.7 billion in 2024.
Stablecoin issuers make profits by collecting the interest on the assets they hold in reserve to back their stablecoins. Circle said USDC is backed by "cash, short-dated US Treasuries and overnight US Treasury repurchase agreements with leading global banks."
Circle's
IPO
comes amid a push by the Trump administration and the crypto industry to pass legislation that would regulate how stablecoin issuers operate in the U.S. A Senate bill advanced last month with bipartisan support.
There is also growing competition in the stablecoin field. A crypto enterprise partly owned by the Trump family just launched its own stablecoin, USD1.
Circle said its long track record and values - the company says its mission statement is "to raise global economic prosperity through the frictionless exchange of value" - will help it stand apart in the field.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

PhysicsWallah acquisition deal of Drishti IAS called off due to..., deal was worth Rs...
PhysicsWallah acquisition deal of Drishti IAS called off due to..., deal was worth Rs...

India.com

time21 minutes ago

  • India.com

PhysicsWallah acquisition deal of Drishti IAS called off due to..., deal was worth Rs...

New Delhi: In the first week of April, we had reported that Vikas Divyakirti, who runs Drishti IAS coaching center, wanted to sell his education business and Physics Wallah had shown interest in buying the business. It was further mentioned that this deal would be completed for Rs 2,500 crore, making it the biggest deal in the world of edutech. Alakh Pandey is famous as PhysicsWallah among crores of students of the country. Now, as per the latest news coming in says that the much publicised acquisition of Drishti IAS by PhysicsWallah has been called off. The deal was in advanced stages but ultimately fell through due to multiple reasons, according to a report by Entrackr. PhysicsWallah was actively exploring acquisitions to strengthen its position in the civil services preparation segment as suggested by multiple reports in April. Drishti IAS is one of the most famous names in UPSC coaching, especially among Hindi-medium aspirants. According to the report, Drishti IAS evaluated the proposal after being approached by PhysicsWallah. However, considering its strong financial performance and independent growth, the company decided not to go ahead with the deal. The report added that Drishti IAS is currently not looking to raise external funds or be acquired. Founded in 1999, Drishti IAS has built a strong presence in the civil services coaching space. In the financial year 2023–24, the Delhi-based institute reported revenue of Rs 405 crore and a profit after tax of Rs 90 crore which indicates that the institute is also expected to post healthy growth in FY25. PhysicsWallah, which originally focussed on online coaching for engineering and medical entrance exams, has recently been expanding into UPSC and other competitive exams. It was in this regard that its acquisition of Drishti IAS was seen as a strategic step to strengthen its offline footprint and diversify its educational offerings, particularly ahead of its planned stock market debut. Both PhysicsWallah and Drishti IAS have not officially responded to the matter till the time of filing this report. (With IANS inputs)

RBI as lender of last resort: A lifeline for NBFCs in crisis
RBI as lender of last resort: A lifeline for NBFCs in crisis

Time of India

time28 minutes ago

  • Time of India

RBI as lender of last resort: A lifeline for NBFCs in crisis

Sunil Kanoria is a Kolkata-based Indian businessman with over 35 years of experience in the infrastructure sector including infrastructure leasing & finance. He had the distinction of serving ASSOCHAM, India's oldest and leading chamber of commerce, as President and has served as Member of the Infrastructure Sector in the 10th Five Year Plan of the Planning Commission of the Government of India. He also served as a Council Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, nominated by the Government of India. He is the former President of The Agri-Horticultural Society of India. Sunil has been engaged in policy advocacy on matters related to economy. Sunil is a visionary who correctly assessed the Indian economy's infrastructure needs at the beginning of his career and anticipated the imminent role of the private sector in infrastructure creation. With foresight and a knack for taking calculated risks, Sunil converted several pioneering ideas into business reality within the infrastructure domain, many of which were first-of-its kind in India. Focusing on spirituality, Kanoria Foundation has organized confluences with a conglomeration of major issues on Humanity, Power (inner & outer) and Spirituality at Work. Kanoria Foundation organized World Confluences since 2009 which was also attended by former Presidents of India, Late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and Late Shri Pranab Mukherjee respectively, among other distinguished luminaries from all walks of life globally. LESS ... MORE The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is reportedly set to redefine its role by preparing to act as a lender of last resort for non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), mutual funds, and microfinance institutions during severe liquidity crises. As reported by the press last week, this move aims to ensure the survival of these entities when they are excluded from lending markets during crises. Given their deep ties to the banking system through borrowings and investments, this step is vital for financial stability. The RBI's economic capital framework (ECF) committee recently raised the contingency risk buffer (CRB) band, indicating readiness to intervene in crises. While post-pandemic asset purchases focused on public assets, the RBI is now considering private asset purchases in future crises. This policy shift acknowledges that NBFCs and other regulated entities are as critical to financial stability as banks. Over the past two decades, the RBI has tightened NBFC oversight, aligning it with banking regulations. Extending the lender-of-last-resort function to these institutions is a logical next step. However, this initiative is overdue. Past crises have exposed NBFCs' vulnerabilities. For example, during the 2018 liquidity crunch, infrastructure finance companies faced a severe asset-liability mismatch, worsened by the RBI's COVID-19 moratorium guidelines in 2020. While borrowers received relief, NBFCs were pressured by creditors, leading to bankruptcy proceedings. Timely liquidity support could have averted such outcomes, stabilizing similar institutions and reducing risks to the financial sector. Globally, central banks have long supported non-bank institutions during crises. In the United States, the Federal Reserve has been instrumental in stabilizing NBFCs and mutual funds. During the 2008 financial crisis, the Fed's Commercial Paper Funding Facility (CPFF) provided liquidity to money market mutual funds and other non-bank entities facing funding shortages. In 2020, the Money Market Mutual Fund Liquidity Facility (MMLF) enabled institutions to purchase assets from money market funds, preventing a collapse in short-term funding markets. These actions highlight the critical role central banks play in supporting non-bank entities to maintain financial stability. In Europe, the European Central Bank (ECB) has similarly supported NBFCs during crises. In 2020, the ECB expanded asset purchase programs and offered targeted longer-term refinancing operations (TLTROs) to indirectly ensure liquidity for non-bank institutions through banks. The Bank of England's COVID Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF) also supported large non-bank firms by purchasing commercial paper, ensuring operational continuity during market disruptions. These global examples demonstrate the effectiveness of central banks extending their lender-of-last-resort function beyond banks. The RBI's proposed framework aligns India with these global practices. By acting as a lender of last resort, the RBI can prevent systemic shocks from liquidity freezes in NBFCs or mutual funds. Their interconnectedness with banks means their failure could trigger a domino effect, threatening the financial ecosystem. Past crises affecting infrastructure finance companies underscore the consequences of inaction. Had this mechanism been in place earlier, significant disruptions might have been avoided. Yet, the RBI must proceed cautiously. Extending this role requires clear guidelines to prevent moral hazard, where NBFCs might take excessive risks expecting bailouts. The RBI should establish strict eligibility criteria and robust oversight to ensure only well- managed institutions facing temporary liquidity issues receive support. It must also balance interventions to avoid crowding out private market solutions, which could stifle innovation and competition. The RBI's move to become a lender of last resort for NBFCs, mutual funds, and microfinance institutions is a forward-thinking step. It addresses a critical gap in India's financial safety net, aligning with practices of global central banks like the Federal Reserve and ECB. While commendable, its success depends on precise implementation to ensure stability without encouraging reckless behaviour. Had this framework been introduced earlier, the financial sector might have been spared some amount of distress. The RBI's proactive stance promises a more resilient financial system for India. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.

Trump-Musk Feud: Tesla Now Worst-Performing Stock, Loses $380 Billion In 2025
Trump-Musk Feud: Tesla Now Worst-Performing Stock, Loses $380 Billion In 2025

NDTV

time36 minutes ago

  • NDTV

Trump-Musk Feud: Tesla Now Worst-Performing Stock, Loses $380 Billion In 2025

Washington DC: Elon Musk's political adventure has been nothing short of a roller-coaster ride - Oval Office access and conference calls with world leaders at the President's golf resort at its peak and being threatened about his government contracts being scrapped and tax benefits being revoked at its worst. But it is Musk's businesses that have borne the brunt of his political escapade, especially in the last 24 hours, after his public fallout with former friend and boss Donald Trump. Tesla has become the worst-performing large-cap stock this year. Its valuation was on a steady decline ever since Musk made his political ambitions public. THE DECLINE Its decline picked pace amid Trump's rhetoric about "beautiful" oil and his executive order on Day 1 of his second term ordering to "drill baby, drill" to "Make America Great Again". As Trump kept hard-selling vehicles that run on petroleum, the demand for Electric Vehicles or EVs fell sharply. Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk's political controversies over his ties to far-right groups resulted in Tesla stock losing even more value after Trump took office in January. But the most devastating blow to the Tesla stock came after Thursday's explosive fallout when the two brash billionaires indulged in a no-holds-barred verbal duel resulting in an end to their partnership. FREE FALL Stock valuation went into free fall as markets opened after Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill' was passed by House Republicans leading to Musk and Trump trading threats and insults. Tesla stock plunged more than 14 per cent, resulting in a wipeout of roughly $152 billion in a matter of hours. With this, Tesla has lost more than $380 billion in valuation since the beginning of 2025 - making it the biggest loser among large-cap stocks. Tesla's market capitalization has fallen 29.3 per cent to $917 billion so far this year. The firm, which ranked eighth globally in terms of market cap at the start of the year, is now on the verge of dropping out of the top 10 big companies globally. THE EV-KILLER BILL Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' is seen by Elon Musk as an EV-killer since the bill removes tax cuts or tax benefits given to electric vehicle manufacturers. For a firm like Tesla, this means tens of billions of dollars annually. Donald Trump has now also threatened to cut Elon Musk's government subsidies and contracts, which give both Tesla and SpaceX "billions and billions of dollars" of benefits. Elon Musk's personal wealth has also taken a beating since the public feud, dropping by nearly $9 billion, according to Bloomberg's billionaire index. 'SUCH INGRATITUDE' During the spat, Elon Musk reminded the "ungrateful" President that the reason he can call the White House his home, was because of Musk's financial and moral support during the election campaign last year, for which he had poured in hundreds of millions of dollars. "Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the ingratitude," Musk wrote in a post on X. Musk has now suggested that Trump "should be impeached" and JD Vance should take over, claiming that the US President figures in the Epstein files over his links to child sex abuser and trafficker Jeffery Epstein.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store