Prominent Chinese investor Duan Yongping, often called “China's Buffett,” has taken his first direct stake in a cryptocurrency-related company, disclosing a position in Circle Internet Group (CRCL) in his Q1 2026 SEC 13F filing. His firm, H&H International Investment, purchased 200,000 shares of Circle at an average price of approximately $95.41 per share, totaling about $19.08 million. The stake represents roughly 0.1% of Duan's estimated $20 billion 13F portfolio, a notably small allocation alongside his largest holdings like Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, and Nvidia.
The move marks a significant reversal from July 2025, when Duan publicly stated that the cryptocurrency industry did not appeal to him. Circle is best known as the issuer of USDC, one of the largest dollar-backed stablecoins, and has been positioning itself as a bridge between traditional finance and blockchain-based payments. The investment suggests Duan may be more interested in the financial infrastructure around stablecoins than in speculative crypto trading.
Circle's stock has experienced volatility in 2026. It surged over 15% after reporting strong financials, with USDC circulation jumping 72% year-over-year to more than $75.3 billion, and later fell about 22% amid regulatory pressure from a tougher CLARITY Act draft. The company also reported $694 million in Q1 revenue and USDC circulation of $77 billion, raising $222 million for its Arc blockchain at a $3 billion valuation.
While the position is tiny relative to Duan's overall holdings, his value-focused, long‑term approach means market participants often scrutinize his portfolio changes. The purchase underscores growing institutional attention toward regulated stablecoin networks as they gain traction in international payments and settlement systems.
