Shares of Circle Internet Group experienced notable gains, rising 9.56% during regular market hours to close at $78.59, followed by an additional 2.37% increase in after-hours trading to reach $80.45.
The upward price movement was driven by a combination of new transactional data for the USDC stablecoin and a broader rally across cryptocurrency-related equities. According to data from cryptocurrency payment processor NOWPayments, USDC transactions grew 209% year-over-year during the first half of 2026, with overall transaction volume climbing 101% over the same timeframe. Meanwhile, Tether's USDT experienced declining transaction metrics despite maintaining its dominant position.
NOWPayments noted that businesses are increasingly utilizing both stablecoins for daily operations such as payroll and treasury management, establishing stablecoins as vital business infrastructure.
The stock performance was further supported by a wider market recovery. Bitcoin rallied nearly 8% to reach the $70,000 threshold, providing positive momentum for blockchain-related equities. Declining Treasury yields, following the Treasury Department's expansion of a bond-buyback initiative, also supported market conditions as the 10-year yield fell to 4.65% and the 30-year yield dropped to approximately 5.2%.
Additionally, sentiment was influenced by a White House cryptocurrency summit hosted by President Trump, which focused on advancing the CLARITY Act legislation to secure the United States' competitive position in digital assets.
Circle currently holds a Moderate Buy consensus rating from 21 Wall Street analysts, consisting of 13 Buy ratings, five Hold ratings, and three Sell opinions, with an average price target of $98.61. The company maintains a market capitalization of $19.95 billion, with shares trading between a 52-week low of $49.90 and a high of $159.47.
