Circle (CRCL) is staking a claim as a cornerstone of the digital-dollar era with USDC at its center. In this episode, we trace its long road to a public listing, its pivot from payments and exchange ownership to focusing on stablecoins, and how a high-profile de-pegging moment tested—and ultimately showcased—its commitment to transparency and regulatory compliance. Circle’s model—earning yield on reserves while building Web3 payment and API services—gives it a durable, institutional-facing niche, but it faces fierce competition from entrenched players like Tether, big tech entrants, and the looming threat of CBDCs. With regulators circling and crypto market volatility ever-present, Circle could either become the trusted bridge to an on-chain financial future or stumble under tighter rules and shifting market dynamics. Which will it be?

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