Fact Check: Is Ripple Really Offering $20 Billion to Buy Circle?

The battle for stablecoin dominance is intensifying. Ripple is reportedly making big moves to acquire Circle, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin.

According to a new Bloomberg report citing anonymous sources, Ripple initially made an offer valued between $4 billion and $5 billion, which Circle rejected as too low.

🚨BREAKING:
Ripple reportedly made a $4–$5 billion bid to acquire Circle’s USDC — but the offer was turned down!

CTO David Schwartz responded: “$6 billion, and that’s our final offer.” #XRP pic.twitter.com/LENmDWy8YH

— CryptoSensei (@Crypt0Senseii) May 1, 2025

Ripple Reportedly Raises Acquisition Bid to $20 Billion

However, in a surprising new development, Ripple’s CEO Brad Garlinghouse has now reportedly raised the acquisition bid to a massive $20 billion. Sources suggest negotiations are progressing toward a potential deal at this higher valuation. The news of this escalated bid awaits official confirmation from either company.

🚨BREAKING: Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has reportedly raised the bid to purchase Circle for $20 billion, with the deal moving closer to being finalized.

If completed, this move could mark a major step toward Ripple becoming a full-scale financial institution. #XRP pic.twitter.com/RodOXiJkeW

— CryptoSensei (@Crypt0Senseii) May 1, 2025

In the middle of all this serious business, Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer David Schwartz made some comments. Responding to a tweet about Ripple’s earlier offer of $5 Billion, he said, “$6 billion, but that’s our final offer.”

Ripple’s Stablecoin Ambitions and RLUSD

Ripple appears trying to strengthen its position within the stablecoin sector. The company launched its own stablecoin, RLUSD, last December. However, RLUSD remains a small player with a market capitalization of around $317 million compared to Circle’s USDC, which commands a market cap of over $61.7 billion.

The alleged increase in the acquisition offer from $5 billion to $20 billion shows Ripple’s seriousness in securing a leading role in the stablecoin sector — a space seeing heightened activity as regulatory clarity improves globally.

Circle’s IPO Plans

While Circle had been focused on its plans to go public, having confidentially filed for an initial public offering (IPO) earlier this month, the new offer from Ripple could change dynamics.

A Circle spokesperson previously declined to comment on the matter, citing the company’s quiet period with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

XRP Price in Search of Catalyst

XRP is currently trading in a tight range and hasn’t been able to move above the $2.25 level. It recently broke above $2.20 and is now testing $2.25 as resistance.

Technical indicators look strong — the MACD is bullish, and the RSI is above 50, showing momentum.

Source: Coinbureau

If XRP closes above $2.25, it could quickly rise to $2.35 or even $2.50. On the downside, $2.18 is the key support to watch if the price drops.

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