Circle Internet Financial Shows Mixed Financial Picture Ahead of Public Listing, with Revenue Up 16% but Profitability Down

Circle Internet Financial, the company behind USD Coin USDC/USD, is showing a mixed financial picture ahead of its planned public listing

Circle Internet Financial, the company behind USD Coin (USDC/USD), is entering the public markets with a mixed financial picture, showcasing strong revenue growth but lower profitability due to higher costs and increased redemptions.

In a post dissecting the newly filed S-1 prospectus, Matthew Sigel, Head of Digital Assets Research at VanEck, highlighted the disconnect between Circle's topline momentum and its bottom-line performance.

According to Sigel's analysis, Circle's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) decreased by 78%, and net income dropped 66%, despite a 16% increase in revenue and a 10% rise in full-time employees. This downturn was attributed to a more competitive market environment and higher costs.

Sigel further noted that Circle's total redemptions surged to $165 billion in 2023, a significant increase from $98 billion in 2022. This suggests that users are rapidly rotating capital in and out of the stablecoin—likely to optimize yield.

"This is also driving a deterioration in margins as Circle's profitability depends heavily on its ability to retain interest-earning reserves," Sigel explained.

On the expense side, Sigel observed that "Circle's share-based compensation rose from $103 million in 2022 to $164 million in 2023—an arguably unjustified increase given the modest change in headcount."

The company's full-time employee count grew only slightly, shifting from 326 to 359, indicating that higher average pay and equity grants significantly contributed to the rise in expenses.

The financials also reflect a broader pressure on USDC's dominance. While it remains the second-largest dollar-pegged stablecoin after Tether (USDT/USD), USDC's market share has faced headwinds in a highly competitive environment.

Still, Circle reported interest income of $779 million in 2023, largely from its holdings in short-duration U.S. Treasuries. This interest income was a substantial portion of its total revenue, highlighting the importance of yield optimization for the company's profitability.

Circle's IPO filing with the SEC signals the company's renewed ambition to go public, following its failed 2021 SPAC merger. The company intends to list its Class A shares on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "CRCL," though pricing details remain undisclosed.

"Becoming a public company is a continuation of our dedication to transparency and accountability," said CEO Jeremy Allaire in a statement. He positioned the IPO as part of Circle's broader mission to modernize financial infrastructure through blockchain-based assets.

The filing comes at a pivotal time, as USDC recently regained market confidence following a de-pegging scare linked to the Silicon Valley Bank crisis, and as political momentum builds around stablecoin legislation in the U.S.

President Donald Trump has expressed support for stablecoin regulation aimed at preserving the dollar's global influence, a move that could benefit Circle as it enters public markets.

If successful, Circle would join the ranks of other publicly listed crypto companies such as Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) and Block, Inc. (NYSE:SQ), offering investors a new way to gain exposure to the rapidly evolving stablecoin sector.