Circle Internet Group (CRCL) Stock Soars on Black Friday: USDC Minting, Tether Downgrade and Crypto Rebound Fuel 10% Rally

On Friday, November 28, 2025, Circle Internet Group, Inc. (NYSE: CRCL) — the company behind the USDC stablecoin — staged a sharp rebound, with its stock jumping around 10% in a shortened Black Friday trading session and closing just under the $80 mark. ^[1]

Below is a detailed roundup of all the major CRCL stock news from 28 November 2025, plus what it may mean for investors watching Circle’s volatile post‑IPO journey.

Key Takeaways

CRCL gained about 10% on Nov. 28, closing at $79.93, after trading between $74.02 and $81.48 in the session, on roughly 22 million shares of volume. ^[2]
The surge coincided with a $500 million USDC mint on Solana, an S&P downgrade of rival stablecoin Tether (USDT), and a broader crypto market rebound after Thanksgiving. ^[3]
Recent Q3 earnings crushed expectations, with Circle posting EPS of $0.64 vs. $0.20 forecast and revenue of $739.76 million, up about 66% year over year. ^[4]
Analyst opinion is split: many still rate Circle a Buy with price targets clustered around $145–$150, well above Friday’s close, while others warn about valuation, volatility and heavy reliance on interest income from USDC reserves. ^[5]
Big money is active on both sides: insiders have sold over 550,000 shares (≈$45.6M) in recent months, while Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest has repeatedly bought the dip and added another 100k+ shares this week. ^[6]

CRCL Stock on November 28, 2025: What Happened?

Data from multiple market trackers show Circle Internet Group closed Friday, Nov. 28, 2025 at $79.93, up 10.04% from Wednesday’s close of $72.64 (U.S. markets were shut Thursday for Thanksgiving). The stock opened at $75.31, dipped to $74.02, and then climbed as high as $81.48 before settling just under $80. ^[7]

Daily move: +10.04%
Intraday range: $74.02 – $81.48
Volume: ≈22.1 million shares, above recent averages in a shortened session
Market cap: roughly $18.8 billion at the close. ^[8]

A recap from Yahoo Finance of how U.S. indexes traded Friday highlighted Circle among the day’s notable movers, listing CRCL up about 10% to $79.93 alongside other crypto‑linked stocks benefiting from the risk‑on mood. ^[9]

All the Major Circle Stock Headlines from 28 November 2025

Here’s a rundown of the key CRCL-focused articles published on Nov. 28, 2025, and what each outlet emphasized.

1. MarketBeat: Earnings Strength Meets Mixed Wall Street Views

“Circle Internet Group (NYSE:CRCL) Shares Up 9.9% – Here’s Why” from MarketBeat framed Friday’s jump as a continuation of the market digesting strong Q3 results: ^[10]

Shares traded up 9.9% intraday, to around $79.81, on lighter‑than‑usual volume due to the holiday session.
Q3 numbers: EPS of $0.64 vs. $0.20 expected, revenue $739.76 million, up 65.9% year over year.
Wall Street consensus: labelled “Hold” with a consensus price target near $150.33, implying substantial upside from the high‑$70s.
Analyst spread: a mix of Strong Buy, Buy, Hold and Sell ratings, underscoring how divisive Circle’s valuation remains.
Ownership trends: around 551,455 insider shares sold (≈$45.6M) in the last quarter, while ARK Invest built a new position worth ~$530 million.

2. Parameter.io: Crypto Rebound, USDC Flows and “Bank‑Like” Economics

Tech‑and‑finance site Parameter ran “Circle (CRCL) Stock: Jumps 11% as Crypto Markets Rebound After Thanksgiving”, stressing the tight link between CRCL and USDC usage: ^[11]

They reported Circle closed 10.9% higher at about $79.81 on more than 8 million shares in the shortened session.
The article highlighted USDC’s market cap: it fell roughly 3% between Nov. 13 and Nov. 21, then bounced back over the Thanksgiving break as money flowed back into crypto.
Because Circle earns interest on the cash and Treasuries backing USDC, higher USDC circulation and still‑elevated interest rates translate into stronger revenue.
Parameter reiterated the earnings beat (EPS $0.64 vs. $0.20; revenue +65.9% YoY) and repeated the Hold rating / ~$150 target picture, also flagging the insider selling and ARK’s massive stake.

3. Motley Fool & Yahoo Finance: “Why Circle Internet Group Jumped 10.9% Today”

Motley Fool’s “Why Circle Internet Group Jumped 10.9% Today” — also summarized on Yahoo Finance — tied the Black Friday surge primarily to a bounce in crypto markets after a rough two weeks, rather than any fresh company press release. ^[12]

The core message:

No new filings or press releases dropped Friday.
Instead, recovering crypto sentiment and rising USDC circulation amplified CRCL’s move, as investors try to value a business whose fortunes swing with on‑chain volumes and interest rates.

4. StockInvest.us: Technicals Still Flash “Sell Candidate”

Technical‑analysis site StockInvest.us called Circle “a sell candidate” even while acknowledging Friday’s sharp rise: ^[13]

They measured a 10.04% gain, from $72.64 to $79.93, with a 10.08% intraday swing between low and high.
About 22 million shares changed hands, around $1.78 billion in turnover.
Their model still places CRCL inside a “very wide and falling” short‑term trend, projecting a possible ~30% decline over the next three months, with a 90% confidence band between roughly $43.65 and $86.14.
Support is seen near $76.59, with resistance around $81.89, reinforcing the idea that Friday’s move, while powerful, is happening inside a volatile downtrend.

5. AInvest: Crypto Rebound and Tether Downgrade Lift Circle

AI‑assisted outlet AInvest published “Circle shares surge 10.04% after-hours as crypto markets recover and USDC circulation rebounds”: ^[14]

The piece attributes the 10.04% pop to a broader crypto market rebound and a recovery in USDC’s market cap after a mid‑November dip.
AInvest highlights Circle’s positioning as a “transparent alternative to Tether”, noting that an S&P Global downgrade of Tether earlier in the week further boosted investor confidence in Circle’s reserves‑backed model.

6. Stocktwits: Half‑Billion USDC Mint on Solana and Tether’s S&P Downgrade

One of the most concrete catalysts came via Stocktwits’ news desk, which ran “CRCL Stock Rises After Half-Billion USDC Mint On Solana Following Tether Downgrade”: ^[15]

Circle minted $500 million worth of USDC on the Solana blockchain in two $250M transactions, signalling hefty new demand for its dollar token.
This came just after S&P Global downgraded Tether’s USDT rating to ‘weak’, citing higher Bitcoin exposure in reserves and disclosure gaps.
Stocktwits notes that CRCL was up around 11% in Friday morning trade, with the stock trading near $81, roughly 26% above its June IPO price.

7. Tim Sykes & StocksToTrade: Japan’s New Crypto Rules in the Background

Two trading‑focused outlets — TimothySykes.com and StocksToTrade — layered in a regulatory angle with headlines like “Japan’s Financial Regulation Sparks Concerns Amidst Crypto Companies” and “CRCL Poised for a Financial Shakedown”. ^[16]

Their coverage noted that:

Japan’s financial watchdog is preparing rules that would require crypto exchanges to hold specific reserves against potential losses, impacting firms like Circle that operate across jurisdictions.
These articles referenced Circle’s upcoming earnings (prior to Nov. 12) and its sizable revenue base and cash flows, but warned about thin profit margins and high volatility.
On Friday itself, both pieces repeatedly highlighted intraday gains of 7–11% in CRCL and framed the stock as a high‑beta vehicle for traders betting on regulatory outcomes and crypto sentiment.

How Far Has Circle Stock Fallen — and What Did It Rebound From?

Friday’s spike comes after a brutal few weeks for CRCL:

Since going public on June 5, 2025, Circle’s stock raced from its $31 IPO price to a closing high above $263 later in June. ^[17]
By November 19, shares had slumped to about $69.72, a record closing low roughly 74% below that peak, according to Barron’s. ^[18]
StockAnalysis now lists CRCL’s 52‑week range at about $64 to $298.99, reinforcing just how extreme the swings have been. ^[19]

Even after Friday’s bounce to roughly $80, Circle remains far below its summer highs, but still above its IPO price — one reason value‑oriented funds and speculative growth investors both see room for conflicting narratives.

Fundamentals Behind the Ticker: How Circle Makes Its Money

For context, Circle Internet Group operates a stablecoin‑centric financial platform:

It issues USDC, a U.S. dollar–denominated stablecoin, and EURC, both backed by cash and short‑term government bonds held in reserves. ^[20]
Circle’s revenue today is dominated by interest income on those reserves — when rates are high and USDC circulation is growing, revenue and earnings swell. ^[21]
MoneyWeek recently described Circle as one of the most regulation‑friendly players in crypto, emphasizing its long‑running push for licenses in the U.S., UK and Singapore and its alignment with the new GENIUS Act, which sets strict 1:1 reserve rules for U.S. stablecoins. ^[22]

Financially:

TTM revenue is around $2.41 billion, with net income of roughly –$202 million and EPS (TTM) about –$1.79, according to StockAnalysis. ^[23]
In 2024, Circle generated $1.68 billion in revenue, up about 15.6% year over year, but full‑year earnings fell sharply as the company invested heavily in growth. ^[24]
Gurufocus, which tracks broader metrics, notes very rapid multi‑year revenue growth but also flags a low Altman Z‑score and negative operating and net margins, signalling financial and execution risk even as the top line expands. ^[25]

In other words: fast growth, but still not a clean profit story.

Big Money Signals: ARK Buying, Insiders Selling

One of the most closely watched dynamics around CRCL is the push‑and‑pull between institutional buyers and insider sellers.

Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest signalled support early, indicating interest in up to $150 million of IPO shares in Circle’s prospectus. ^[26]
More recently, Barron’s reported that ARK bought over 215,000 Circle shares in mid‑November, part of broader dip‑buying in beaten‑down crypto IPOs. ^[27]
On November 25, Gurufocus highlighted that ARK added another 108,500 shares, citing the move as a sign of continued conviction in Circle’s long‑term growth story. ^[28]

At the same time:

MarketBeat and Gurufocus tally over 550,000 shares sold by insiders in the last three months, worth roughly $45–46 million, including sales by board members at prices in the $70s and $80s. ^[29]

The net effect is a split message: highly visible growth‑oriented funds are accumulating, while some insiders are taking chips off the table into volatility.

Analyst & Technical View: High Upside, High Risk

Street Targets and Ratings

Across various aggregators:

MarketBeat cites a consensus “Hold” rating with an average target price around $150, based on a wide spread of bullish and bearish calls. ^[30]
StockAnalysis aggregates 17 analysts with an overall “Buy” stance and a 12‑month target near $144.69, implying roughly 80% upside from Friday’s close. ^[31]
Gurufocus also reports targets in the mid‑$140s, but stresses that most valuation and quality metrics still reflect elevated risk. ^[32]

The takeaway: Wall Street on average expects gains, but disagreement is intense, and downgrades or target cuts have accompanied recent price weakness.

Technical Set‑Up

From a chart‑driven angle:

StockInvest.us tags CRCL as “very high risk”, noting daily volatility around 6–7% over the past week and a short‑term trend that still slopes downward despite the recent bounce. ^[33]
Their model suggests any short‑term rally may run into resistance in the low‑$80s, with support building around the mid‑$70s. ^[34]

Combine that with Circle’s dependence on interest rates and crypto sentiment, and you get a stock that can swing dramatically on macro news, regulatory headlines, or on‑chain data like Friday’s half‑billion USDC mint.

What November 28’s Surge Could Mean for CRCL Investors

Friday’s nearly 10% jump in Circle Internet Group stock compresses several narratives into one trading day:

Fundamentals still look strong on growth, with Q3 revenue surging and USDC circulation rebounding after a brief dip. ^[35]
Competitive dynamics shifted in Circle’s favour, at least temporarily, as S&P’s downgrade of Tether and heavy USDC minting on Solana highlighted Circle’s more conservative reserve model. ^[36]
Macro and crypto sentiment improved, with Bitcoin and other digital assets bouncing after a rough stretch — something that tends to magnify CRCL’s moves in both directions. ^[37]
Valuation and risk remain contentious, with some services calling the stock oversold and undervalued, while others warn of downside based on trend, volatility and financial‑health scores. ^[38]

For short‑term traders, Friday’s action reinforces that CRCL behaves like a levered bet on stablecoin demand and crypto risk appetite, sensitive to everything from regulatory surprises to on‑chain data.

For long‑term investors, the story is more nuanced:

Circle is one of the most regulated, institution‑friendly players in crypto, well positioned for a world where stablecoins are tightly supervised. ^[39]
But its heavy reliance on interest income means earnings could shrink if rates fall, even if USDC supply keeps growing. ^[40]
The stock’s history — soaring out of the gate, then losing over 70% from peak before this rebound — shows how difficult the market finds valuing a hybrid of bank, fintech and crypto infrastructure provider. ^[41]

As always, anyone considering CRCL should look beyond a single day’s rally, weigh their tolerance for volatility, and examine whether Circle’s mix of regulation‑first strategy, stablecoin economics and crypto‑linked risk fits their broader portfolio.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any security.