Hoskinson dismissed antitrust concerns surrounding the potential buyout, arguing that Ripple could help dismantle what he described as a “Coinbase–a16z–Circle mafia” — a tightly knit network of influence that allegedly controls much of the liquidity, listings, and stablecoin access in the U.S. crypto space.

“If you’re outside that ecosystem, you get blacklisted,” Hoskinson said. “It’s hard to get listed, hard to get liquidity, and hard to get a stablecoin.”

According to Hoskinson, Ripple’s entrance into this territory could challenge the status quo, creating a more open and competitive environment. He also stated that Ripple might serve as a “better custodian” of the stablecoin infrastructure than the current players, particularly on Circle’s side.

Hoskinson noted that he’s heard rumors suggesting Ripple may be willing to pay up to $11 billion to acquire Circle, though no official confirmation has emerged.

If true, the acquisition would represent a massive shift in stablecoin dominance and could bring Ripple’s XRP ecosystem closer to direct competition with USDC, Circle’s flagship product. Hoskinson’s comments add a new layer of intrigue to the speculation, hinting at deeper tensions within the crypto industry’s power structure.

The post Charles Hoskinson Supports Rumored Ripple-Circle Deal, Criticizes Crypto “Mafia” Influence appeared first on Coindoo.

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Filed under: Bitcoin - @ May 26, 2025 12:01 am