Circle Internet Corp. (CRCL) saw its stock price plummet by 5.10% in intraday trading, as crypto-related stocks faced a significant sell-off amid mixed cryptocurrency performance and concerns over inflation data.
The decline in Circle's stock price comes on a day when many crypto and blockchain-related companies experienced downward pressure. Early morning trading saw Circle initially down 2%, but the sell-off intensified throughout the session, leading to the more substantial 5.10% drop. This movement reflects broader market trends, with several other crypto stocks also posting losses, including BIT Mining, Hyperion DeFi, and Canaan.
The cryptocurrency market itself showed mixed results, with Bitcoin managing a slight gain of 0.6% to reach $120,991, after hitting a new all-time high above $124,000 overnight. However, many altcoins faced more significant declines, with Ethereum down 2.3%, Solana dropping 2.9%, and XRP slumping 5.1%. The divergence between Bitcoin's performance and that of other cryptocurrencies and related stocks suggests a shift in investor sentiment and risk appetite within the sector.
Analysts point to hotter-than-expected wholesale inflation data as a key factor influencing market dynamics. The producer price index data released on Thursday showed inflation picking up more than anticipated, potentially reducing confidence in the Federal Reserve's ability to cut interest rates in the near future. This economic backdrop may be prompting investors to reassess their positions in higher-risk assets such as crypto-related stocks, contributing to the sell-off observed in Circle and its peers.