Bernstein ve con optimismo a Circle con un aumento del 70% ¡objetivo de precio en 190 dólares! Confían en que las monedas estables serán fundamentales para la IA y la infraestructura de pagos

Wall Street investment firm Bernstein has released a new report reaffirming its bullish outlook on USDC issuer Circle, with a target price of $190, implying approximately 70% upside potential. Analysts point out that stablecoins are accelerating in adoption for cross-border payments and future AI agent applications, positioning Circle to become the biggest winner in next-generation internet financial infrastructure.
(Background: Circle, Ripple, and Morgan Stanley are competing: Why are “crypto custody licenses” the true drivers of mainstream adoption?)
(Additional context: Mizuho Bank raises Circle’s target price to $100: US-Iran tensions boost oil prices, Fed delays rate cuts)

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• Stablecoins decouple from crypto bull-bear cycles, fueling payment demand
• Cross-border settlement and Visa network deployment
• Targeting the AI economy: payment channels for robots

As stablecoins gradually move beyond mere crypto trading functions, Wall Street giants are shifting their focus to the long-term value of this sector. According to The Block, renowned investment firm Bernstein’s analysts issued a strong reaffirmation of their positive stance on USDC issuer Circle (stock ticker: CRCL) in their latest report on Tuesday.

Bernstein maintains a “better than the market” rating for Circle and sets a high target price of $190. Considering the stock closed Monday at $111.84 after a 9.74% surge, this indicates about 70% potential upside. Analysts emphasize that stablecoins are accelerating in adoption among consumers, businesses, and even future AI agents.

Stablecoins decouple from crypto bull-bear cycles, fueling payment demand

The report notes that the adoption rate of stablecoins has shown strong resilience, no longer entirely dependent on crypto market sentiment and volatility. Although Bitcoin remains below its all-time high, USDC’s circulation has rebounded strongly from previous lows, reaching approximately $78 billion, setting a new high; meanwhile, the leading USDT supply is around $184 billion.

In practical application data, global stablecoin transaction volume is projected to reach an astonishing $55 trillion in 2025, a 98% increase from the previous year. Even excluding bot and high-frequency trading, adjusted actual transaction volume remains at $11 trillion, with a 91% annual growth rate. Of this, pure payment activities contribute about $375 billion (up 76% annually), with “consumer-to-business (C2B)” payments growing at a rate of 131%, indicating stablecoins are gradually becoming an indispensable part of global transaction activity.

Cross-border settlement and Visa network deployment

In the consumer payment sector, integrating stablecoin networks with traditional credit cards has become the most successful model. Bernstein mentions that payment giant Visa currently supports over 130 stablecoin-linked credit cards across 50 countries, with an annualized settlement volume of about $4.6 billion.

Meanwhile, Circle’s actively expanding “Circle Payment Network” has made significant progress. This network allows financial institutions and fintech platforms to send USDC and convert it into local fiat currencies through compliant partners. By February 2026, the network will cover key corridors including the EU, Singapore, India, the Philippines, and the US, attracting 55 institutions with an annualized transaction volume of $5.7 billion.

Targeting the AI economy: payment channels for robots

Beyond traditional cross-border payments, Bernstein is also looking toward the AI sector. Analysts predict that as AI agent technology matures, micro-payments between machines (M2M) will explode, such as automated API payment fees or purchasing digital services. Stablecoins are seen as the ideal micro-currency for supporting this automated economy.

Based on its solid compliance standing, extensive exchange partnerships, and expanding global payment network, Bernstein firmly believes Circle will be the ultimate winner in this long-term race, potentially becoming the core provider of next-generation internet financial transmission.