By Key Points
- Ripple Circle Buyout Rumor Shocks Crypto Markets in 2025
- Ripple allegedly offered Circle $20 billion
- No evidence or confirmation from Ripple
- Circle’s IPO valued at only $5 billion
- Market impact of rumor remained minimal
The crypto world was buzzing this week after rumors claimed Ripple made a massive $20 billion buyout offer to Circle. But despite the headlines, no hard proof has emerged, and Ripple has stayed silent.
Circle, known for issuing the world’s second-largest stablecoin (USDC), had already turned heads when it reportedly rejected Ripple’s earlier $5 billion offer. That alone sparked plenty of speculation.
But a $20 billion offer? Many experts say that number just doesn’t add up.
🚨LATEST: Ripple has increased the offer to acquire CIRCLE for $20 billion and the deal seems to be progressing towards completion. pic.twitter.com/ES25KNwmNv
— Ledger Man 🎩 (@strivex_) May 3, 2025
Did Ripple Really Offer Circle $20 Billion?
Circle’s IPO has been valued around $5 billion. That’s a far cry from $20 billion. Even though Circle manages over $60 billion in collateral for USDC, it doesn’t actually own those assets. This makes the idea of Ripple paying four times Circle’s valuation seem far-fetched.
The rumor started when social media accounts and some crypto media outlets claimed Ripple’s CEO, Brad Garlinghouse, had increased his bid to $20 billion after the first rejection.
🚨 JUST IN: Ripple is reportedly planning to raise its takeover bid for Circle to $20 billion after its initial $5 billion offer was declined pic.twitter.com/awLTqKUZt3
— Crypto Briefing (@Crypto_Briefing) May 2, 2025
However, no one has provided concrete evidence, and neither Ripple nor Circle has commented officially.
Dom Kwok, co-founder of the Web3 developer platform EasyA, weighed in:
“Circle’s IPO valuation is ~$5 billion. No way Ripple would offer $20 billion. People think Circle’s $60 billion in collateral makes it worth more, but it doesn’t own that collateral.”
fyi @circle IPO valuation is ~$5 billion (which is the valuation Ripple is looking at when it made its acquisition offer).
there is no way Ripple would offer $20 billion for Circle.
ps i see lots of people saying $5 billion is a low offer since circle holds $60 billion in…
— Dom (Bull/ish) | EasyA (@dom_kwok) May 2, 2025
Market Reaction and Ongoing Misinformation
Interestingly, the market didn’t react as strongly to this rumor compared to past fake news stories. Recent false claims—like a rumored XRP ETF approval or Trump’s supposed tariff pauses—caused serious market waves.
But this time, traders seemed more cautious.
Some in the crypto community hope this signals a shift. There’s growing concern that misinformation is becoming a dangerous market mover. Wild rumors can trigger unnecessary volatility, harming both retail traders and larger firms.
It’s unclear how many traders believed the Ripple-Circle buyout rumor. But the minimal market response suggests that more investors are questioning sensational claims before reacting.
For example, even as wild stories swirled, traders stayed focused on verified market developments like the recent Bitcoin price surge and the latest Sky Token upgrade.
Ripple and Circle Rumor Adds to a Pattern of Crypto Hype
The Ripple-Circle buyout rumor fits a growing trend of crypto misinformation and hype driving short-term market sentiment. Just recently, claims about ZachXBT exposing a Bitcoin theft caused temporary market jitters, despite no immediate impact on Bitcoin’s value.
Similarly, other market-moving stories—like the performance of Ether memecoin trading firms and the recent MOVE token price drop—highlight how quickly crypto narratives can affect investor behavior, whether they’re based on fact or fiction.
This pattern underscores the need for more responsible reporting and for traders to critically assess viral claims before making financial decisions.
As always in crypto, staying informed is the key to staying safe.
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