TLDRWilliam Blair said COIN shares fell about 26% from March highs.Analysts expect Street estimates for Coinbase to move lower.The firm cited growing USDC market share versus Tether’s USDT.Coinbase will report first-quarter 2026 earnings on May 7.William Blair maintained a constructive outlook on both Coinbase and Circle.Coinbase (COIN ) shares appear de-risked after a steep first-quarter pullback, according to William Blair analysts. The firm cited expanding USDC adoption and a reset in expectations. Analysts said the outlook supports both Coinbase and Circle ahead of May 7 earnings.Coinbase Global, Inc., COINCOIN Shares Reset After 26% PullbackWilliam Blair said COIN shares fell about 26% from March highs. The decline erased gains from an earlier first-quarter rebound and reset expectations. Analysts Andrew Jeffrey and Adib Choudhury said weaker volumes are already reflected in pricing.They wrote that trading volumes and transaction revenue trailed estimates for much of the year. They expect Street forecasts to move lower, yet they said investors should not be surprised. They added that soft first-quarter results likely will not shift sentiment before earnings.Coinbase plans to report first-quarter 2026 results on May 7. The analysts said current valuation levels account for recent operating trends. They described the stock as offering “asymmetric upside” if crypto markets recover.USDC Expansion Supports Coinbase and CircleWilliam Blair highlighted rising USDC adoption as a core driver for Coinbase. The analysts said USDC continues to gain share from Tether’s USDT. They added that newer entrants such as PayPal and World Liberty Financial hold smaller positions.The note described Coinbase as a “call option” on further USDC commercialization. The analysts said growing usage benefits both Coinbase and Circle. They pointed to higher transaction activity and payments use cases supporting Circle’s revenue capture.The firm also cited Coinbase’s broader product expansion. The exchange now offers derivatives, staking, equities trading, and prediction markets. Analysts said the “everything exchange” model strengthens competitive positioning.They rejected projections of a prolonged crypto downturn over the next two years. They called that scenario a “low-probability outcome” in their note. They maintained a constructive stance on Circle as stablecoin activity increases.Coinbase has reported softer trading metrics during the recent quarter. However, William Blair said the stock already reflects those pressures. The analysts reiterated their view ahead of the company’s earnings release on May 7.The post COIN Shares Fall 26% but Analysts See Reset Expectations appeared first on Blockonomi.