Citi Taps Circle and Bullish as Top Crypto Stock Picks for 2026

Overview

• Circle is rated Buy with a $243 price target, roughly 97% above recent trading, based on expected USDC monetization as AI tools begin to handle payments.
• Citi’s Circle valuation assumes about $200 billion in payments and transfers over five years and highlights Arc’s testnet status with a potential mainnet launch later in 2026.
• Bullish keeps a Buy rating with its target trimmed to $65 from $67 due to revised Bitcoin price forecasts rather than a shift in the company’s outlook.
• Bullish reported roughly a 70% month-over-month jump in February spot trading volumes, building on its 2025 New York BitLicense and late-2025 options launch.
• Work on the CLARITY Act continues with a possible late-March markup and potential floor votes in April or May, a risk Citi says has not changed its recommendations.