“iPhone moment” hype usually makes me cringe, but coming from the CEO of one of 2025’s hottest stocks, I’m all ears!
Having covered tech stocks for years, I’ll be the first to admit how recklessly the phrase has been thrown around. Every time a platform dishes out a new SDK or API, analysts rush in with talk of the next big “paradigm shift.”
💵💰Don’t miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet’s free daily newsletter💰💵
Except it’s never an iPhone moment, far from it. It’s the sort that would’ve made the late Steve Jobs raise an eyebrow, not launch a keynote.
The vibe feels different this time, though. Crypto’s back in the air, and with all the recent action, it’s molten hot right now. Layer that with an IPO market on the rebound and you’ve got a seriously compelling Wall Street story.
Jeremy Allaire, chief executive officer of Circle Internet Financial Ltd., center, rings the opening bell on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) during the Circle initial public offering (IPO) in New York, US, on Thursday, June 5, 2025. Circle Internet Group Inc. and some of its shareholders raised nearly $1.1 billion in an upsized initial public offering that was priced above a marketed range, in a sign that stablecoin issuers are winning greater acceptance. Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Stablecoins’ iPhone moment: one-line code, real dollars
Like I said, the iPhone moment phrase in the tech space is thrown around like a buzzword on autopilot.
Related: Legendary fund manager sends blunt 6-word message on bitcoin
It begs the question, though, what does delivering an “iPhone moment” really take? To put it plainly, it’s the point at which something goes from being “nice-to-have” to “can’t-live-without”.
Think of use cases suddenly popping up everywhere, next thing you know, the thing’s ubiquitous.
For stablecoins, that moment could come when they plug into any app as a push notification or in-app purchase. Currently, though, stablecoins are, for the most part, used only in crypto wallets and DeFi protocols.
However, imagine ordering an Uber and paying the driver the second you hit “arrive.” Imagine being a gamer and getting rewards instantly without a middleman.
Or maybe you’re running an eCommerce store and making cross-border payouts, barring all the FX fees and banking delays. That might be the real paradigm shift, and Circle Internet could be the one leading the charge.
More Circle Internet Stock News:
Circle rockets 124% at open as IPO demand goes wildStablecoin issuer Circle files to go public – CryptoStock hits new all-time high as Israel-Iran conflict escalates
Circle Internet chases the stablecoin iPhone moment
Circle Internet stock jumped as much as 22% to over $168 in early trading Monday, more than five times its $31 IPO price.
Related: Stablecoin Issuer Tether Agrees to $41 Million Settlement with CTFC
Over the weekend, CEO Jeremy Allaire took to X to argue that stablecoins have yet to hit their “iPhone moment,” but suggested it could happen “soon.”
That’s essentially the point at which developers recognize programmable digital dollars as a foundational platform, just as smartphones once reshaped the app ecosystem.
His timing couldn’t be better.
The force behind USDC, the second-biggest stablecoin ($61 billion market cap), is looking to ride the momentum and push even further.
Moreover, the bullish sentiment increased after crypto investor Sam Broner hailed stablecoins as a lower-cost on-ramp for building fintech apps.
Washington’s push for clarity bolsters Circle stock
Last week, the U.S. Senate pushed a landmark stablecoin framework to license issuers, mandate reserve audits, and carry out safe harbors from securities laws.
With a final Senate vote expected later in the week, a clearer regulatory pathway could light another fire under Circle Internet’s stock price.
To add more context, Circle Internet hit the market with a bang in June, pulling off one of the most explosive IPO debuts.
Pricing 34 million shares at $31, above range, it raised over $1 billion. Consequently, the stock soared 168% to close at $83.23, the biggest Day 1 pop since Arm in 2021.
The resounding success was mostly due to heavyweight backing, regulatory tailwinds, and an IPO market craving for high-growth fintech.
It’ll be interesting to see where Circle goes from here
It certainly has the building blocks for an “iPhone moment” in programmable money.
That includes a robust battle-tested infrastructure, deep USDC adoption, and a clean regulatory credential. Also, with lawmakers warming up to stablecoins, Circle is well-positioned to race ahead.
In the past month, Circle stock has zoomed past broader-market gains, delivering almost a 90% one-month gain, compared to the S&P 500’s 1.3% bump.
At the time of writing, Circle stock was trading at $150, up almost 12.2% from the previous day’s close.
