Circle Internet Corp. (CRCL) saw its shares drop sharply by 5.69% during the night session, as the broader stablecoin sector faced selling pressure following the People's Bank of China's (PBOC) announcement of stricter regulations on virtual currencies.
The PBOC reiterated its hard stance against stablecoins over the weekend, warning of speculative risks and pledging to crack down on illegal activities involving such assets. The central bank highlighted concerns that stablecoins fail to meet anti-money laundering and customer identification requirements, sparking a sell-off in related stocks.
While the PBOC's statement did not directly name Circle Internet Corp., the company's involvement in the stablecoin space (e.g., USDC) makes it vulnerable to regulatory headwinds. The broader decline in crypto-linked stocks reflects heightened investor caution amid the regulatory scrutiny.