Circle Raises $222M for Arc Token with BlackRock and Apollo Support

According to reports, Circle has successfully raised $222 million in a presale for its Arc token, valuing the project at a fully diluted valuation of $3 billion. The funding round attracted major institutional investors and venture capital leaders, including BlackRock, Apollo, and a16z crypto. Alongside this expansion into blockchain infrastructure, CRCL stock jumped by over 4% in premarket trading following an encouraging Q1 earnings report that highlighted robust revenue growth.

This momentum arrives as stablecoin-related firms see significant expansion; Circle's Q1 results showed a 20% revenue increase, mirroring strong performance across the sector seen in peers like Coinbase, which reported surging transaction revenues per market data. While net income fell by 15%, the strategic backing from BlackRock reinforces confidence in the firm's pivot toward Real World Assets (RWA), a direction previously emphasized by CEO Jeremy Allaire regarding the future of digital finance.

Technically, CRCL stock is trading at elevated levels following the close on May 12, 2026, with investors watching for sustained momentum above current support levels. Looking ahead to the economic calendar, traders should monitor the U.S. Initial Jobless Claims scheduled for later today, as these figures may impact risk appetite in the tech and crypto sectors, alongside upcoming speeches from Fed officials that could signal shifts in monetary policy.