Ripple is back in the headlines with reports of raising its acquisition offer for Circle, the issuer of USDC.
Ripple's Bid Situation
Initial reports suggested Ripple offered between $4 billion and $5 billion for Circle, but that offer was rejected. New sources claim Ripple has raised its bid to $20 billion, though no official confirmation has been made.
Circle's Planned IPO
Circle filed its S-1 registration with the SEC on April 1, 2025, planning to go public on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker 'CRCL.' JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup are listed as the lead underwriters, with the IPO expected to launch this summer.
Speculations and Possible Outcomes
John Deaton, a pro-XRP lawyer, suggested that Circle rejected the $5 billion offer because it expects its post-IPO value to be higher, possibly close to or above the $9 billion mark. He also highlighted regulatory shifts favoring crypto, indicating that a $10 billion+ deal wouldn’t be unrealistic. Additionally, he questioned Ripple’s relationship with Coinbase, which already owns a minority stake in Circle.
As of now, both Ripple and Circle have not confirmed any details of ongoing acquisition talks.
