Circle's USDC Expansion Drives Stablecoin Market Surge

Circle reported a 28% year‑on‑year increase in USDC circulation and a 263% rise in on‑chain transaction volume, reaching $21.5 trillion in the first quarter of 2026. The company highlighted new partnerships with cross‑border payment provider Nium and treasury‑software firm Kyriba, expanding USDC use cases. In Europe, Circle's euro‑linked stablecoin EURC saw a 210% increase in supply, and collaboration with Coinbase boosted the share of USDC held on that platform from 25% to 27%.

Financial metrics showed an improvement in the RLDC profit margin to 41.4%, and management reaffirmed its goal of 40% annual growth in USDC supply. Analysts cited the strong performance, noting a 38% jump in Circle’s stock price and maintaining a bullish outlook on the stablecoin sector.

The combined data point to a robust demand for regulated digital currencies and position Circle as a leading player in the evolving global payments landscape.