The seasoned investor known as China’s Buffett, Duan Yongping, revealed a new stake in Circle Internet Group (CRCL), his first known investment directly related to the cryptocurrency industry. Duan bought 200,000 shares of Circle at an average price of about $95.41 per share, according to his Q1 2026 SEC 13F filing. The stake is estimated to be worth about $19.08 million.
The position, which makes up about 0.095%of Duan’s estimated $20 billion in holdings, is still relatively small in comparison to his larger portfolio, despite the attention surrounding the move. Duan had previously shown little interest in stablecoins, so the investment is noteworthy.
The Circle purchase was a significant reversal less than a year after he publicly stated in July 2025 that the industry did not appeal to him. As the issuer of USDC, one of the biggest dollar-backed digital assets in cryptocurrency, Circle occupies a central position in the stablecoin market. As stablecoins gain traction in international payments and settlement systems, the company has drawn increasing institutional attention by positioning itself as a link between traditional finance and blockchain-based payments infrastructure.
Duan’s action does not necessarily indicate that he is generally optimistic about cryptocurrencies. The position’s comparatively small size points to a cautious exploratory allocation, as opposed to a high-conviction wager. Despite this, investors frequently keep a close eye on changes in Duan’s portfolio due to his reputation for long-term disciplined investing that is motivated by the ideas of Warren Buffett.
The Circle stake might suggest that Duan is more interested in the underlying financial infrastructure that is developing around digital dollars and regulated blockchain payment networks than in speculative cryptocurrency trading. As institutional investors keep highly volatile cryptocurrency assets apart from businesses developing payment rails, custody systems, and tokenized financial services, this distinction has grown in significance.
The announcement also coincides with stablecoins’ growing significance in the financial markets, as banks, payment companies, and regulators become more aware of tokenized dollar systems and cross-border settlement technologies. As of right now, the investment seems to be a minor but significant symbol that one of Asia’s most well-known value investors is at least prepared to keep a closer eye on the crypto-financial industry.
