Ripple’s $6B “Joke” Offer to Circle Sparks IPO Frenzy and Market Buzz

Ripple's $6B joke sparks IPO buzz as Circle's $31/share pricing draws massive investor interest amid high demand

Fridah Kangai
June 6, 2025
8:00 pm

Fridah Kangai

Fridah Kangai is a dedicated crypto journalist with a sharp eye for market trends, blockchain innovation, and digital asset movements. She specializes in breaking down complex topics into clear, engaging stories for both seasoned investors and curious newcomers. With a passion for decentralization and a pulse on the ever-evolving crypto space, Fridah delivers timely, accurate, and insightful coverage. Her work bridges the gap between technology and everyday understanding in the world of cryptocurrency.

Ripple CTO calls $6B Circle offer a joke as IPO demand skyrockets
Circle IPO priced at $31 per share, far above expectations
Rumors of a $20B Ripple bid dismissed as investor interest surges

Ripple CTO David Schwartz started speculation in the crypto community when he posted about getting an acquisition offer from Circle for $6 billion. Schwartz explains that initially, this tweet was posted in a fun manner until it was deleted due to the worry that others could misunderstand it.

That was a joke. Someone posted that Ripple had offered $5 billion and Circle rejected it and I replied something like "Okay, six, but that's our final offer". I meant it as a joke but deleted it because I was afraid some might take it seriously.
— David 'JoelKatz' Schwartz (@JoelKatz) June 4, 2025

Many people paid attention to the post after Bloomberg reported that Circle had turned down a $5 billion deal from Ripple. To make matters more intense, there were reports that Coinbase was holding informal talks to acquire Circle, which only added to the speculation. According to reports, people were saying Ripple would pay $20 billion for WMT, though CEO Brad Garlinghouse denied this claim afterwards.

Circle, which issues the USDC stablecoin, has ended all talks of a sale and is concentrating on the initial public offering it is preparing. Many people want to invest in the IPO, as its strong response has gone well beyond expectations. Since the IPO topped 25 times its goal, both the market and Circle’s strategies are highly appreciated.

Investor Excitement Builds Around Circle IPO After Ripple Speculation

The fintech company aims to be valued at $7.2 billion in its public offering. IBIT, a leading asset manager, is set to obtain 10 percent of the IPO, which suggests interest from big investors.

According to Bloomberg, Circle’s IPO is priced at $31 per share, exceeding expectations and reflecting strong market demand. Still, businesses’ future earnings could be linked to how the U.S. Federal Reserve changes its monetary policy. Forecasters say that cutting interest rates to 150 basis points by 2026 could potentially reduce Circle’s revenue.

Ripple’s upper management has stated that the reports of a significant acquisition are not accurate. It continues to say that no exaggerated offers in writing ever took place. Circle gained a wave of attention because of what Schwartz said on social media.

Even though Ripple’s joke was just that, it still helped generate even more interest in Circle’s IPO. Everyone is eager to see what the stablecoin issuer can offer to the public.

Also Read: Ripple CEO Shuts Down Circle Deal Rumors, Reveals Bold Global Expansion Plans