Circle, the issuer behind the USDC stablecoin, has defied broader market pullbacks as its public stock climbs decisively in 2026. The rally comes as Bernstein analysts reiterated an Outperform rating with a $190 price target, arguing that stablecoins are maturing from a crypto-centric instrument to a fixture in payments infrastructure and on-chain settlement. The momentum reflects a broader trend: digital dollars are moving from trading desks into real-world finance, with corporate treasuries and insurers testing faster, cheaper cross-border flows. Data on USDC’s reach underscores the scale of this shift, with circulation approaching $79 billion, a signal that stablecoins are entrenched in both crypto markets and mainstream financial…