Circle surged 68% since it’s IPO debut as major tech companies quietly explore stablecoin payments. - Apple discussing USDC integration with Circle since January - X beta tests money services - Airbnb evaluates crypto payment options Stablecoins processed $27.6T in 2024, offering instant settlement & 24/7 availability that traditional payment rails can't match. Companies see 90% cost reductions on international transfers as a major competitive advantage. But this is not it we’re shifting towards yield bearing stablecoins (s/o to @stablewatchHQ for the data) + Daily yields hit $4M+ during peak periods + cumulative payouts reaching $615M total + @ethena_labs’ sUSDe leads yield distribution at $290M, followed by sDAI at $117M This creates a new dynamic where stablecoins aren't just stable but they’re productive, offering users dollar stability + real yield. The mcap split between payment stablecoins (yellow) & yield bearing versions (purple) shows growing institutional demand. As APY rates stabilized around 5-15%, adoption accelerated beyond simple payments into yield generation.