Invest ideasNews
11 May 2026, 18:56
NEAR Protocol price prediction 2026-2032: Is NEAR a good investment?
Key takeaways: NEAR price prediction indicates it may reach a maximum price of $2.65 by the end of 2026. By 2029, NEAR is expected to rise to a maximum price of $6.74, driven by increasing adoption and ecosystem growth. Looking ahead to 2032, NEAR Protocol could experience a substantial surge, potentially reaching a maximum price of $11.25 or beyond. The rising bearish sentiment within NEAR Protocol’s community is bringing a cautious approach among traders. As NEAR continues to advance its technology and forge strategic partnerships, questions surrounding its current price potential persist, inviting further analysis and exploration of its prospects. Overview Cryptocurrency NEAR Protocol Ticker NEAR Price $ 1.53 (-3.66%) Market Cap $1.98 Billion Trading Volume 24-h $242.41 Million Circulating Supply 1.29 Billion NEAR All-time High $20.42 Jan 17, 2022 All-time Low $0.526, Nov 04, 2020 24-h High $1.63 24-h Low $1.51 NEAR Protocol price prediction: Technical analysis Market Sentiment Bearish 50-Day SMA $1.32 200-Day SMA $1.61 Price Prediction $1.24 (-5%) Fear & Greed Index 19.85 (Extreme Fear) Green Days 12/30 (40%) 14-Day RSI 61.65 NEAR Protocol price analysis: NEAR falls to $1.53 TL;DR Breakdown: NEAR Protocol price analysis shows decline to $1.53 Cryptocurrency lost 3.66% of its value in 24 hours NEAR Protocol coin finds support at $1.52 On May 11, 2026, NEAR Protocol price analysis reveals a bearish price sentiment as the price falls to $1.53 after a rejection above the $1.60 mark. NEAR Protocol price analysis 1-day chart: NEAR falls to $1.53 The one-day price chart of NEAR Protocol confirms a bearish market trend as the price falls to the $1.53 mark today. Based on current momentum, NEAR is expected to remain under pressure over the next week, with potential for further declines or consolidation within this week’s trading range. NEAR/USDT price chart: TradingView The Relative Strength Index (RSI) indicator is trading near the mean position in the neutral area. The indicator’s value has also decreased to index 62.65. This shows rising selling pressure, while the indicator shows room for further downwards movement across the short-term. A further downtrend in the market can be expected if selling momentum continues to intensify. NEAR price analysis 4-hour chart The four-hour chart analysis of NEAR shows a bearish market sentiment across the past few days as the bulls failed to climb past the $1.62 mark and crumbled to the $1.53 mark where it trades at press time. This suggests a potential short opportunity for traders, as short-term price projections and immediate market sentiment remain negative. NEAR/USDT price chart: TradingView The Bollinger Bands are wide suggesting increasing volatility with the bands converging in recent days. At press time the bands show a resistance at $1.615 and support at $1.517. Additionally, the activity of NEAR ‘whales’, or entities holding large amounts of NEAR, can significantly impact price movements due to the relatively small market size. The RSI indicator is trading in the oversold region suggesting a bearish trend. The indicator fell below the 50 level, indicating strong resistance around the $1.615 mark. NEAR Protocol technical indicators: Levels and actions Daily simple moving average (SMA) Period Value Action SMA 3 $ 1.58 SELL SMA 5 $ 1.54 SELL SMA 10 $ 1.41 BUY SMA 21 $ 1.39 BUY SMA 50 $ 1.33 BUY SMA 100 $ 1.25 BUY SMA 200 $ 1.55 SELL Daily exponential moving average (EMA) Period Value Action EMA 3 $ 1.55 SELL EMA 5 $ 1.52 BUY EMA 10 $ 1.46 BUY EMA 21 $ 1.41 BUY EMA 50 $ 1.36 BUY EMA 100 $ 1.38 BUY EMA 200 $ 1.57 SELL What to expect from NEAR Protocol price analysis? NEAR/USDT price chart: TradingView Near Protocol price analysis gives a bearish prediction as after making a charge to the $1.62 mark the price faced resistance and declined to the $1.53 mark where it trades at press time. According to the latest protocol forecast, NEAR Protocol has identified key support levels at $1.52, $1.48, and $1.44, with resistance levels at $1.615, and $1.65. If the bearish dominance continues NEAR may fall to the $1.48 mark. Is Near Protocol a good investment? The near token distinguishes itself in the cryptocurrency market capitalization, emphasizing scalability, usability, and developer-friendliness. It aims to facilitate the creation of decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts, catering to developers and end-users. NEAR’s innovative technology and user-centric approach make it attractive for institutional adoption and mainstream adoption of blockchain applications. With a focus on user experience and developer tools, NEAR Protocol is positioned to drive significant medium term growth in the decentralized application ecosystem. Its potential to disrupt traditional industries and capture market share in the blockchain space makes it an intriguing investment opportunity for those interested in innovative technology solutions. Why is NEAR down? NEAR failed to climb past $1.62 and has declined to the $1.53 mark where it finds short-term support. Will NEAR recover? NEAR protocol price has seen a massive selloff in the last thirty days as price fell from near the $3.00 mark to the current $1.7 price level. However, analysts believe that this bearish momentum will be short-term, predicting price targets in a range of $2.5 and the $2.8 mark by the end of 2026. Will NEAR reach $10? NEAR is expected to rise to the $10.00 mark by the end of 2030, supported by the bullish trends surrounding the broader cryptocurrency markets. In the upcoming years, NEAR and other AI-related crypto projects are projected to experience significant growth as market adoption and technological advancements continue to drive value. Will NEAR reach $20? NEAR protocol price is expected to cross the $20 threshold by mid-2030s. This protocol’s price forecast is shaped by factors such as market sentiment, macroeconomic influences, and on-chain metrics, all of which contribute to the outlook for NEAR’s future price movements. This supports the long term forecast as the industry continues to see increasing adoption across the mainstream. The bullish rally will be supported by NEAR’s vision of a scalable future and user and developer-friendly architecture that sets it apart from other blockchains. Will NEAR reach $50? The chance of NEAR protocol price reaching the $50 mark depends on various circumstances, such as future network development, market regulations, and the broader cryptocurrency market growth. If NEAR continues its current trajectory, it can reach $50 in the next several years. Does NEAR have a good long term future? Yes, NEAR has a good long-term future due to its innovative technology, focus on scalability and strong ecosystem development, which supports a favorable market sentiment and price prediction. However, the project must keep up with sector developments to maintain its edge in the digital ecosystem. Recent news/opinions on Near Protocol NEAR recently revealed that its preparing the blockchain for a quantum era adding safeguards and post-quantum cryptography to ensure its future. Quantum computing is a threat to every blockchain protocol. NEAR's architecture already makes accounts and assets more quantum-secure than most chains. The team is now adding post-quantum cryptography to secure NEAR and the wider Intents ecosystem. Here's what's underway 🧵 pic.twitter.com/kugoUIlq24 — NEAR Protocol (@NEARProtocol) May 6, 2026 NEAR price prediction May 2026 NEAR protocol price forecast for the month of May is expected to trade at a minimum price of $1.18 based on the latest price data, with an estimated average trading price of $1.35 and a maximum price of $1.79. Month Minimum Price ($) Average Price ($) Maximum Price ($) May 1.18 1.35 1.79 NEAR price prediction 2026 In 2026, technical analysis anticipates a continued rise with a minimum price of $1.00, an average of $1.71, and a maximum of $2.65. Year Min. Price ($) Average Price ($) Maximum Price ($) 2026 1.00 1.71 2.65 NEAR price prediction 2027-2032 Year Min. Price ($) Average Price ($) Maximum Price ($) 2026 1.00 1.71 2.65 2027 1.31 2.57 3.84 2028 1.76 3.21 4.64 2029 2.30 4.52 6.74 2030 3.07 6.06 9.04 2031 3.96 7.08 10.19 2032 4.52 7.89 11.25 NEAR Price Prediction 2027 In 2027, technical analysis anticipates a continued rise with a minimum price of $1.31, an average of $2.57, and a maximum of $3.84. NEAR Price Prediction 2028 For 2028, NEAR Protocol may trade around a minimum of $1.76, an average of $3.21, and a maximum value of $4.64 by year-end. NEAR Protocol Prediction 2029 The 2029 outlook remains bullish with estimates suggesting a minimum value of $2.30, an average trading value of $4.52, and a maximum of $6.74. NEAR Price Prediction 2030 By 2030, NEAR could potentially trade at a minimum of $3.07, an average of $6.06, and a maximum value of $9.04. NEAR Price Prediction 2031 Forecasts for 2031 reflect long-term upward sentiment with a minimum of $3.96, an average price of $7.08, and a maximum of $10.19. NEAR Price Prediction 2032 The forecast for 2032 suggests NEAR could see a minimum value of $4.52, an average price of $7.89, and a maximum value of $11.25 based on current projections. NEAR price prediction 2026-2032 NEAR market price prediction: Analysts’ NEAR price forecast Firm 2026 2027 Coincodex $6.40 $7.47 DigitalCoinPrice $2.56 $4.61 Cryptopolitan’s NEAR protocol (NEAR) price prediction Cryptopolitan’s predictions show that the price of the NEAR Protocol will reach a high of $2.65 in the second half of 2026. In 2029, it is expected to range between $2.30 and $6.74. In 2032, NEAR may trade between $4.52 and $11.25, with an average value of $7.89 according to protocol technical analysis. Note that these predictions are not investment advice regarding future price movements. Seek independent professional consultation or do your research. NEAR Protocol historic price sentiment NEAR price history The Near Protocol (NEAR) began its journey in August 2020, aiming to create a scalable and permissionless blockchain. The first recorded trade value in October 2020 was $1.072, closing the year at $1.459 after a recovery. In 2021, NEAR showed an uptrend, starting at $1.305 and reaching an all-time high (ATH) of $7.572 by March 13. A market downturn pushed the price down to $1.537 by July 19, but it rebounded to $11.776 on September 9 and further to $13.168 on October 26. By 2022, NEAR’s price crashed to below $2.00, losing over 90% of its peak value. Throughout 2023, NEAR saw low volatility, with prices remaining below $2.50 for most of the year. Since the start of 2024, NEAR has experienced a strong recovery, climbing to $7.80. However, after reaching the $8.00 mark in mid-May, it fell back to $5.60. In June, NEAR traded between $4.48 and $7.66. It rose from $5.20 to $6.04 in July but closed the month below $5.00. NEAR started August at $5.00, declining to $3.89 by the end of the month. In September 2024, the asset bounced back and closed the month above the $5.20 mark. In October, the price stumbled and fell to $4.850 in the first few days before closing the month below the $4.00 mark leaving a negative outlook at the start of November. November saw NEAR making remarkable strides as the bulls held strong control of markets during the month, a trend that was expected to continue into December. However, the month saw NEAR plummet from heights of $7.00 to fall below $5 before closing the month. In January the price could not find a stable foothold and the price continued dwindling, closing the month just above $4.00 In February the price fell significantly towards the $3.00 mark and continued to decline ending the month at $2.80. In March the price continued to decline ending the month near $2.50, a trend that continued in April ending the month at $2.35. In May the price recovered but only to the extent of reversing April’s losses as the month ended below $2.50. June saw further decay as despite the early bullish signals, bears dominated the month and NEAR closed the month around $2.12. In mid-July, the price of NEAR Protocol surged toward the high of $3 but it started to decay in the later half of the month, a trend that continued in August with NEAR closing the month at $2.38. In September, the price rose sharply to the $3.40 mark but failed to maintain the level ending the month at $3.00 In October the price declined further as bears dominated the crypto markets with NEAR ending the month below the $2.00 mark. The trend continued in November with NEAR closing the month at the $1.80 mark. In January the decline continued as the price declined to the $1.00 key support level. In February, the trend continued with the price diving below $0.95 before recovering above $1.00. The recovery continued into March as NEAR closed the month above $1.15. The trend continued through April with NEAR recovering to $1.30.
11 May 2026, 18:45
Major Solana Upgrade Alpenglow Begins Testing Ahead of Full Rollout
Solana's Alpenglow consensus protocol upgrade is one step closer to being rolled out on the layer-1 network's mainnet.
11 May 2026, 18:40
SharpLink and Galaxy Digital are launching a $125M onchain yield fund
Sharplink Inc., the world’s second-largest corporate holder of Ether (ETH), has reported a net loss of $685.6 million for the first quarter of 2026 in its financial and operating results on Monday, May 11. The company, which holds 872,984 ETH worth approximately $1.7 billion as of May 4, has also unveiled plans to launch the Galaxy Sharplink Onchain Yield Fund in partnership with Galaxy Digital. The private vehicle will be seeded with $100 million from Sharplink’s staked Ethereum treasury and $25 million from Galaxy Digital, the New York crypto and asset management firm founded by billionaire Mike Novogratz. Both companies are focusing on the decentralized finance (DeFi) lending and trading sector that just endured its worst month of hacking on record. Galaxy will serve as the sole investment manager, overseeing protocol selection, position sizing, and risk controls. Galaxy has been actively deploying capital on-chain since 2020. In June 2025, it closed a $175 million venture fund targeting early-stage investments in DeFi, stablecoins, and blockchain infrastructure. Why is staking no longer enough for Sharplink? Sharplink’s first-quarter results show why the company is reaching further down the yield curve. Its revenue jumped to $12.1 million in the three months to March 31, from $0.7 million a year earlier. This rise was driven almost entirely by the actively managed ETH treasury strategy it launched in June 2025. The company held 872,984 ETH as of May 4, worth roughly $1.7 billion, and has generated 18,800 ETH in staking rewards since inception. Although Strategic ETH Reserve reports the firm’s current holdings at around 863, 020. Sharplink ETH holdings. Source: Strategic ETH Reserve Native Ethereum staking now yields only 2.5 to 3.5% a year, and Sharplink’s market-to-net asset value (mNAV) reportedly sits at 0.79, meaning that the market is pricing the company’s stock below the value of the ETH on its balance sheet. The Galaxy fund is a direct response. Lending and liquidity provision in DeFi can produce annual returns of 10% or more, with correspondingly higher risk. How big is the Q1 loss, and what does it actually mean? Sharplink reported a net loss of $685.6 million for the quarter, up from $1 million a year earlier. The bulk of that, a $506.7 million unrealized loss on ETH and a $191.7 million impairment on liquid staking tokens, is non-cash, reflecting US GAAP fair-value treatment of crypto assets after a first-quarter decline in ETH prices. However, none of them reduces the number of tokens Sharplink holds. By the metric the company prefers, ETH per share, Sharplink has more than doubled its position since June 2025, rising from 2.0 to 4.02. Cash and equivalents fell to $16.9 million from $28.5 million at the end of 2025. Its selling, general, and administrative expenses went up to $9.9 million as the firm internalized most of its asset management platform. “During the quarter, we deployed our ETH capital with discipline, internalized the majority of our asset management platform, and have moved beyond foundational staking into a broader set of on-chain opportunities,” chief executive Joseph Chalom, formerly head of BlackRock’s digital assets strategy, said in a statement. Is this the right time to push deeper into DeFi? The fund arrives at one of the worst stretches in DeFi’s short history. On April 1, North Korea-linked attackers stole $285 million from Drift Protocol , Solana’s largest decentralized derivatives exchange, through a months-long social engineering operation. April 2026 recorded the highest number of crypto hacking incidents of any single month ever, with TRM Labs attributing 76% of 2026 losses through April to North Korean-linked operations. Chalom is not discouraged by the recent turmoil, as he stated, “The really interesting thing is, out of any financial crisis, whether in traditional finance, DeFi, or other sectors, you end up raising the standards for the next wave of entrants and the next deployments and allocations,” he said. For him, the protocols that place a high premium on security will survive, and those are the ones they are going to support and invest in. Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free .
11 May 2026, 18:12
Circle Reports Strong Q1 Growth: $3B Arc Blockchain Investment Signals New Institutional and AI-Driven Finance Era
Circle is executing a global stable coin market strategy while the communications scale more globally. Actual Q1 2026 financials show not only continued strong revenue growth but a purposeful development of institutional blockchain infrastructure and AI-driven financial ecosystems. As revenues grow, transaction volumes hit all-time highs and with multibillion-dollar bets placed on the new Arc blockchain, Circle makes plain its intent: The future of finance is an increasingly on-chain and under-construction entity. Circle Announces Revenue Growth And Record Activity In Q1 2026, the company recorded revenue of $694 million as well as reserve income. This upsurge is consistent with the increasing demand for stablecoin infrastructure itself, especially for its main offering, USD Coin (USDC). In fact, the circulation of USDC hit $77 billion in circulating supply for that quarter, making it one of the most used digital dollar assets globally. In a headline-grabbing statistic, over the year-ended in Q3-2023 on-chain transaction volume rose 263% to $21.5 trillion. It is recognition of an important change to how digital dollars will be used. Before, they were primarily used as a means to trade, but now have become an important component of payments and settlements, along with large-scale decentralized financial operations. And this momentum is something Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire highlighted, with significant growth across all areas of stablecoin deployment, infrastructure development and payments exploration. The Internet’s largest paradigm shift is happening now, and our Q1 results underscore Circle’s role at the center of these changes. → $694M total revenue and reserve income, +20% YoY → $77.0B USDC in circulation, +28% YoY → $21.5T in USDC onchain transaction volume, +263% YoY… pic.twitter.com/GYwLy0v2Dl — Circle (@circle) May 11, 2026 Arc Raise of $222 Million Shows Huge Support from Institutions Aside from robust earnings, large gains were reported behind a capital raise connected with its blockchain project at Circle. The sale will allow the company to raise $222 million in a presale of its ARC token at a fully diluted valuation of $3 billion. This funding round was led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z crypto) and major global financial institutions and investment firms include state-investment organizations such as BlackRock, Apollo Global Management, Intercontinental Exchange, SBI Group, Standard Chartered and ARK Invest. Other investors are Janus Henderson Investors, General Catalyst, Marshall Wace, IDG Capital, Haun Ventures and Bullish which underlines general institutional confidence in the project. This fundraising means more than just getting some capital, it marks an inflection point. Rather than sitting around waiting for traditional finance to embrace the digital asset space, it sets up shop with its own players and drives spending towards the infrastructure that will likely define future financial systems. Introduction To Arc Arc, a new Layer 1 blockchain for stablecoin payments and on-chain finance, is at the core of Circle’s strategy. Arc was designed around the self-custodial trading experience versus a general-purpose Blockchain. Circle envisions this network to provide a mechanism for stablecoin settlements, tokenized financial instruments and a new class of AI-enabled economic activities. This is broader than merely human interaction. Arc is designed to empower when this commerce will be AI agents autonomously transacting peer-to-peer, where algorithms can drive payments, held assets and real-time economic activity. It fits in with Circle’s wider vision of programmable finance, the idea that money should work together not just digitally but intelligently and independently. For insights directly from leadership: We shared our Q1 results today at @Circle , reflecting strong execution, market leadership and new platform launches. A rapid convergence of AI platforms and onchain money are creating a new internet stack that will transform the global economic system. ⁰⁰We’re seeing… pic.twitter.com/eEnK8oze1C — Jeremy Allaire – jerallaire.arc (@jerallaire) May 11, 2026 Leading Institutions Already Testing Arc Infrastructure Arc is already garnering interest from major global institutions, even prior to official rollout. Circle reported that more than 100 organizations are currently testing the network’s testnet. Participants include payments heavyweights like Visa and Mastercard, as well as cloud and AI tech firms including Amazon Web Services and Anthropic. This demonstrates that Arc’s development is not an isolated phenomenon, meaning that the presence of these entities is important. These institutions are in the best position to lead large-scale adoption. Through integration of payments, cloud infrastructure and AI capabilities, Circle is on a mission to be the unified platform supporting both core financial functions and next generation economy. Growth In Stablecoins Further Accelerated By Regulatory Tailwinds As approval submissions from various companies continue to be processed, Circle seems to be in sync with changing regulations that could potentially cause disruption within the stablecoin space. Of course, legislation like the GENIUS Act recently signed into law and the pending STABLE Act may allow banks or fintechs to eventually issue their own dollar-backed tokens. If these laws come into practice, it will allow institutions to cut third-party stablecoin issuers from the picture and ultimately open up market adoption but further increase competition. From Circle’s perspective, this regulatory shift is a two-fold dynamic. Though market share could be diverted with new entrants, the expected growth in stablecoin usage will help bolster the infrastructure providers such as Arc; especially if it is the main platform providing institutional transactions. Taken together, the recent moves at Circle show a company transforming from a stablecoin issuer to full-service financial infrastructure. Circle Agent Stack launch, Circle Payments Network (CPN) extension and Arc preparation are part of the same mission to achieve a fully on-chain financial system. This platform is able to target not just crypto-native participants but also includes banks, fintech firms, enterprises, and AI entities thereby integrating disparate segments of the global economy into a single programmable framework. The next few months could turn out to be the most consequential yet, not just for Circle but also perhaps for the widespread embrace of blockchain-based financial infrastructure worldwide, as Arc nears launch and regulatory clarity pushes forward. Disclosure: This is not trading or investment advice. Always do your research before buying any cryptocurrency or investing in any services. Follow us on Twitter @nulltxnews to stay updated with the latest Crypto, NFT, AI, Cybersecurity, Distributed Computing, and Metaverse news !
11 May 2026, 17:10
Creek Finance Launches Gold-Backed DeFi Mainnet on Sui
BitcoinWorld Creek Finance Launches Gold-Backed DeFi Mainnet on Sui Creek Finance, a decentralized finance project backed by physical gold, has officially launched its mainnet on the Sui blockchain. The announcement, made via the project’s official X account, introduces a suite of services including staking, yield farming, and lending, all powered by the gold-pegged token XAUm. Tokenized Gold Meets DeFi XAUm is issued by Matrixdock, a real-world asset (RWA) firm that tokenizes physical gold stored in secure vaults. Each XAUm token represents one fine troy ounce of gold, bridging traditional commodity markets with blockchain-based finance. Creek Finance leverages this token to allow users to generate yield without selling their gold holdings. The Sui team confirmed in a related statement that the integration enables network participants to borrow, swap, and earn interest using tokenized gold as collateral. This creates what they describe as a new yield-generating layer for gold on the platform, expanding the utility of a historically passive asset. Why This Matters for DeFi and RWA The launch represents a growing trend in decentralized finance: the tokenization of real-world assets. By bringing physical gold onto a high-performance blockchain like Sui, Creek Finance aims to offer a stable, tangible collateral option in a market often dominated by volatile cryptocurrencies. For Sui, a Layer 1 blockchain known for its parallel execution and low transaction costs, this adds a major real-world asset use case to its growing ecosystem. Implications for Users For retail and institutional users, the ability to use gold as collateral for loans or to earn yield through staking provides a familiar asset class with new financial flexibility. However, the project also introduces risks common to DeFi, such as smart contract vulnerabilities and liquidity risks. Users are advised to conduct their own research before participating. Conclusion Creek Finance’s mainnet launch on Sui marks a significant step in merging traditional gold investments with decentralized finance. By enabling lending, borrowing, and yield generation against tokenized gold, the project expands the utility of real-world assets in the blockchain space. The success of this initiative will likely depend on user adoption, security, and the broader regulatory landscape for tokenized commodities. FAQs Q1: What is XAUm? XAUm is a gold-pegged token issued by Matrixdock, representing one fine troy ounce of physical gold stored in secure vaults. It is used as collateral and a yield-bearing asset within the Creek Finance ecosystem. Q2: How does Creek Finance generate yield on gold? Users can stake XAUm tokens in liquidity pools, provide them as collateral for loans, or participate in yield farming strategies. The platform uses smart contracts to automate these processes and distribute rewards. Q3: Is Creek Finance audited? The project has not publicly disclosed specific audit details at the time of launch. Users should verify security measures and audit reports through official channels before depositing funds. This post Creek Finance Launches Gold-Backed DeFi Mainnet on Sui first appeared on BitcoinWorld .
11 May 2026, 16:00
Circle misses Q1 estimates as Arc token project hits $3B valuation
Circle (CRCL) has managed to raise $222 million from a pre-sale of Arc, which is the token associated with its upcoming blockchain. The company already has a fully diluted network value of $3 billion. But the timing could not have been worse, considering Circle’s earnings for the first quarter were better than expected yet still fell short of projections. The CRCL has regardless surged by more than 4% on Monday after the Arc news and the earnings report, where it posted 21 cents in earnings per share, which was 3 cents above the estimate from analysts surveyed by LSEG. The company’s revenue came in at $694 million, below the expected $722 million. Circle brings major investors into Arc before the blockchain goes live Andreessen Horowitz led the Arc raise with $75 million, joined by BlackRock (BLK), Apollo Funds, Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), SBI Group (8473.T), Janus Henderson Investors (JHG), Standard Chartered Ventures, General Catalyst, Marshall Wace, ARK Invest, IDG Capital, Haun Ventures, and Bullish, the crypto exchange that owns CoinDesk. This makes Circle the first publicly traded company to run a token presale before its blockchain officially launches. Arc is the native token of the new network, and its first supply will total 10 billion tokens, with Circle keeping 25% of that amount that gives it a way to run validators, collect network fees, and earn staking income if Arc sees real usage. The biggest slice, 60%, is meant for developers, users, and other people or companies that build on the network, use it, or help support it. The remaining 15% will go into a long-term reserve. Jeremy Allaire, Circle’s CEO, told reporters on Monday that blockchain infrastructure is becoming as important as mobile operating systems and cloud platforms. “We want to build an operating system that has many, many stakeholders in it,” Jeremy said, adding that large companies would help run the infrastructure and take part in governance. Jeremy also said Circle is becoming “a broader internet platform company.” He said the company is entering the operating system business through a token-based, distributed network, while also getting into apps. Circle grows USDC revenue while higher costs drag down net income Circle’s reserve income surged to $653 million, reflecting an increase of 17% since last year. However, it was mainly driven by a surge in the average amount of USDC circulating. There was a 39% rise in the volume of USDC circulating, but unfortunately, the reserves’ ROI decreased by 66 basis points. The total additional revenue from subscriptions, transactions, and service fees was $21 million, increasing its total revenue to $42 million. Expenses were also on the rise, with a significant rise in distribution, transaction, and other expenses to $407 million, owing to higher distribution payments. Operating expenses were 76% higher than last year at $242 million, due to post-IPO stock compensation and associated payroll taxes. Operating costs for Circle adjusted up 32%, hitting $136 million due to an increase in product, distribution, and operating investments. Net income declined 15%, settling at $55 million owing to insufficient increases in revenue to offset increased stock-based payment expenses and additional costs. Adjusted EBITDA climbed 24%, reaching $151 million, aided by increased USDC supplies. Circle also unveiled Circle Agent Stack, a set of tools intended for developers and AI agents. Some products in the stack include Circle CLI, Agent Wallets, Agent Marketplace, and Nanopayments via Circle Gateway. Circle CLI equips developers and AI agents with a command-line interface to construct with Circle’s wallets, payments, and policy management. Nanopayments facilitates USDC transfers without fees down to $0.000001, designed specifically for quick machine-to-machine payments, according to Circle. Circle Skills adds more tools for autonomous software that needs payment rails. Nikhil Chandhok, Circle’s chief product and technology officer, said USDC is “internet-native, programmable, and always available.” He said the new products combine digital dollars, wallets, service discovery, machine-readable controls, and payment tools built for software. If you're reading this, you’re already ahead. Stay there with our newsletter .
