Brad Garlinghouse’s $20B Offer to Circle: Too Good to Be True?

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Well, well, well! The rumor mill is spinning, and this time, it’s a juicy one. Word on the digital street is that Ripple, the blockchain giant, has offered a whopping $20 billion to Circle, the brains behind USD Coin (USDC). If you thought that was the plot of a new Hollywood movie, you’re not alone.

Apparently, X (formerly Twitter) user “Crypto Barbie” has thrown her hat into the ring, claiming that Ripple’s CEO, Brad Garlinghouse, has upped the ante from a mere $5 billion to $20 billion. And hold onto your seats, folks—she’s convinced that this deal is *moving forward*. Let’s all pause for dramatic effect. 🎬

WOW! 💥

IS THIS TRUE? 👀

“RIPPLE HAS NOT BACKED AWAY FROM ITS INTEREST IN CIRCLE:

REPORTS SUGGEST RIPPLE’S CEO, BRAD GARLINGHOUSE, HAS RAISED THE OFFER TO $20 BILLION AND THE DEAL IS LIKELY MOVING TOWARD COMPLETION!” 💰 #XRP

— 𝓐𝓶𝓮𝓵𝓲𝓮 (@_Crypto_Barbie) May 1, 2025

Ripple enthusiasts are clearly running wild with this news, dreaming up grandiose theories about Ripple’s supposed expansion into the U.S. market. Some even suggest that Ripple’s own stablecoin, RLUSD, might be lagging behind in adoption, pushing the company to make bold plays like buying Circle. Because hey, who doesn’t love a little market dominance, right?

But it doesn’t stop there. Pro-crypto lawyer Bill Morgan seems to think that Ripple’s RLUSD project could be a sneaky way to soften up Circle for a takeover. Because when in doubt, just buy out the competition, right?

Then there’s Crypto Eri—no stranger to stirring the pot—who’s all but declared that this deal isn’t about the money. Oh no, it’s about *curbing competition*. If Ripple takes control of USDC, they’d dominate the stablecoin market, sideline the little guys, and gobble up Circle’s Payment Network. All for the low, low price of… well, let’s say a lot of zeros. 🤑

However, before you start booking flights to your new office in Ripple’s shiny new headquarters, here’s a little reality check: Neither Ripple nor Circle has confirmed this $20 billion deal. Nope, nada, zilch. The rumors floating around on social media? Pure speculation. So, for now, folks, let’s chalk this one up to another wild crypto gossip session. 😏

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2025-05-02 10:30