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Circle (USDC) Price Soars 50%: Short Squeeze Rally, Not Earnings, Fuels Surge
26.02.2026 20:48
The price of Circle's stablecoin ecosystem token surged nearly 50% following its earnings report, but analysts attribute the dramatic rise primarily to a technical short squeeze rather than fundamental financial strength. The rally, which saw the token significantly outpace broader crypto market gains, was fueled by a cascade of forced buy-ins from traders who had bet against the price. While Circle's quarterly results showed growth in USDC stablecoin revenue and interest income, the financial performance was not seen as robust enough to justify such a sharp price appreciation on its own. This event highlights the volatile and speculative nature of crypto markets, where technical trading factors can sometimes overshadow underlying business fundamentals. Market observers caution that the gains may be unsustainable if driven mainly by short covering, advising investors to focus on long-term adoption metrics for USDC and Circle's regulatory standing.