Just-In: USDC Issuer Circle Allegedly In Talks With Ripple & Coinbase For Potential Sale

The crypto Merger & Acquisition (M&A) activity in the digital currency ecosystem is taking new shape, with USDC issuer Circle still in acquisition talks. According to a new report from Fortune, despite its planned Initial Public Offering (IPO) push, the company is still in acquisition talks with Ripple Labs and Coinbase Global Inc.

Circle Still for Sale, Coinbase Named Favorite

Circle Filed for IPO in early April, marking a major milestone for the company that has been exploring avenues to go public since at least 2022. Despite its personal growth push, the company remain a target for other bigger firms in the crypto ecosystem.

The Fortune report pegs the Circle IPO target at $5 billion. According to the publication, citing sources tied to the matter, there are informal negotiations ongoing between the USDC parent company and Ripple Labs. While the association to the blockchain payments firm is not new, Fortune’s sources also tied Coinbase into the ongoing information negotiations.

It remains unknown whether or not a final deal will be recorded. However, the sources noted that Circle will sell without tough considerations if a good bid comes from Coinbase. The informal conversations are ongoing and may change in the near term.

Other sources have named Coinbase exchange the favorite firm to buy the USDC parent firm. While there are no reports of other firms in the race, the report hinted that no timeline is in view.

Will Ripple Labs Increase its Bid?

The new update about Circle and the ongoing talks is not new as Ripple placed a bid earlier. Valued at about $4 billion to $5 billion, this initial bid was reportedly rejected by Circle. This rejection came on the grounds that it did not match its market value.

Although there were rumors that the blockchain payments firm would make another bid, no official confirmation has been made. The Fortune report highlights Ripple Labs’s 100 billion XRP reserve as a major advantage in the race for the firm.

It remains unknown the exact goal of Ripple Labs for the stablecoin issuer, considering it also have its own RLUSD token. With a new report tying the Brad Garlinghouse-led firm to the USDC parent company, more possibilities remain on the horizon.

Cash Reserve to Make the Difference

It is worth noting that both Coinbase Exchange and Ripple Labs have made strategic acquisitions this year. As reported earlier by CoinGape, Coinbase acquired Deribit for $2.9 billion to boost its broader market presence.

Ripple Labs also committed $1.25 billion to acquire Hidden Road, adding to the high-profile deals in the crypto M&A scene. Whether Coinbase or Ripple is able to acquire Circle depends on the excess cash flow in subsequent quarters.