Ripple CEO Denies Circle Acquisition Amid IPO Buzz

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has officially denied rumors that the company had any intention of acquiring USDC issuer Circle. Speaking at a Las Vegas event on Tuesday, Garlinghouse addressed recent speculation, stating that Ripple was never in talks to purchase the stablecoin firm.

Rumors began circulating in late April after a Bloomberg report claimed Circle had rejected a $5 billion acquisition offer from Ripple, allegedly considering the bid too low. The situation gained further traction when Fortune reported informal discussions between Circle and both Ripple and Coinbase, sparking widespread debate in the crypto community.

In late May, Circle publicly refuted the rumors, asserting that it was not for sale. On Monday, Reuters reported that the company is aiming for a $7.2 billion valuation in its anticipated initial public offering (IPO), reinforcing its independence and growth strategy.

Garlinghouse reiterated Ripple’s position, stating the company had no plans to acquire Circle and wished them success with the IPO. Reactions to the acquisition rumors were mixed within the crypto space. While Cardano co-founder Charles Hoskinson saw potential benefits for the industry, MetaLeX Labs founder Gabriel Shapiro warned of possible negative repercussions, calling it a potential "crypto apocalypse."

Ripple’s denial puts to rest weeks of speculation, as both companies continue pursuing separate strategic paths. With Circle focused on its IPO and Ripple maintaining its enterprise blockchain leadership, the spotlight now shifts to how both firms will evolve in a competitive and fast-changing digital asset landscape. Keywords like Ripple, Circle acquisition, USDC, stablecoin, IPO, Brad Garlinghouse, Coinbase, and crypto news help optimize this article for better search engine visibility.