Ripple Circle acquisition rumors are setting the crypto world abuzz as speculation mounts over a potential buyout of Circle, the company behind the second-largest stablecoin, USDC, by Ripple, the blockchain firm associated with XRP. Though unconfirmed, the rumor mill is running hot, fueled by industry insiders, crypto influencers, and leaked reports.
The chatter took off after a Bloomberg report claimed Ripple had made an initial acquisition offer to Circle, which was allegedly turned down. The plot thickened with whispers of Coinbase entering the fray with a counteroffer. However, Circle responded swiftly, stating it is “not for sale.”
Despite the denial, many XRP community members remain convinced that something big is brewing. Influencers speculate that if Ripple were to acquire Circle, it could radically enhance XRP’s utility, particularly in global payments and settlements, by integrating with USDC’s robust infrastructure.
Venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya further stoked the speculation, calling a Ripple or Coinbase buyout of Circle “genius.” According to Chamath, Circle’s upcoming IPO, slated to trade under the ticker CRCL on the New York Stock Exchange, is 25 times oversubscribed, pegging the company’s value at around $7 billion. In his words, acquiring Circle for $12–13 billion would be a “steal” given its pivotal role in the evolving U.S. stablecoin landscape.
— Chamath Palihapitiya (@chamath) June 5, 2025It would be genius for Ripple or Coinbase to buy Circle.**
It looks like Circle’s IPO is 25x oversubscribed, valuing the company at around $7b. If someone can buy it for even $12-13b, that’s a steal, imo, for what this business could be worth in 20 years.
Circle has built the…
“Circle built the rails for stablecoins in the U.S. before the government even knew what rails were,” Chamath noted, referencing upcoming regulations such as the GENIUS bill, which aims to bring legal clarity to stablecoin operations.
Chamath also predicted that Ripple, Coinbase, Stripe, and Square are on a collision course in the race for stablecoin dominance, with competition driving innovation but squeezing long-term profit margins. He emphasized that whichever company delivers the most cost-effective and efficient system will come out ahead.
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has since denied making a $10 billion bid for Circle, though he didn’t entirely shut down the possibility of acquisition talks having taken place, adding a layer of mystery that only intensified public speculation.
XRP influencer Mickle added more fuel to the fire, claiming that XRP company initially offered $5 billion, then raised it to over $10 billion, a bid he argued could be more enticing than Circle’s goal to raise $6 billion through its IPO. Critics quickly labeled this as unfounded speculation, while others pointed out that Circle’s board and long-term strategy could stand in the way of any acquisition.
Crypto analyst Scott Melker backed Chamath’s viewpoint but introduced a significant wildcard: Tether. If Tether gains U.S. regulatory approval, Melker warned, it could become the dominant stablecoin provider, leaving competitors scrambling. Still, he expressed goodwill toward both Ripple and Circle, stating, “I’m friends with both teams. I want them both to win.”
Circle, for its part, has reiterated its focus on going public and denied receiving acquisition offers from either the XRP company or Coinbase. However, in the fast-moving world of crypto, firm denials have sometimes been precursors to seismic shifts.
For now, the Ripple Circle acquisition remains in the realm of speculation, stirring the markets with uncertainty. The possibility alone has set the stage for a high-stakes battle within the emerging stablecoin economy’s future.
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