USD Coin

What is USD Coin (USDC)?

USD Coin (USDC) is a **stablecoin**, a type of cryptocurrency designed to maintain a stable value. Specifically, USDC is a fully collateralized stablecoin pegged to the US dollar on a 1:1 basis. It was created through a partnership between Circle and Coinbase and is primarily powered by the Ethereum blockchain, though it is now available on multiple chains. USDC serves as a bridge between traditional fiat currency and the crypto-native world, providing a stable asset for trading and a safe haven during market volatility. Users can swap USDC, become liquidity providers to earn fees, and boost their yield on platforms like DeFi Swap.

A Brief History of USD Coin

USD Coin was launched in September 2018 by the **Centre consortium**, a joint venture between payments company Circle and the cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase. Its primary aims were to reduce the volatility associated with fixed-supply cryptocurrencies and to facilitate the conversion of fiat currency to cryptocurrency. The project's mission is to be "digital money for the digital age," a stablecoin for a world where cashless transactions are becoming the norm. The Centre Consortium was dissolved in 2023, with Circle taking on sole governance of USDC.

How USD Coin Works

USDC is an open-source, smart contract-based stablecoin. Its value is maintained by a 1:1 backing with US dollar-denominated assets. This means that for every unit of USDC in circulation, there is $1 held in reserve, consisting of a mix of cash and short-term US Treasury bonds. The Centre consortium, and now Circle, states that USDC is issued by regulated financial institutions. To maintain transparency and public trust, Circle provides monthly attestations from a reputable accounting firm, detailing the composition of its reserves.

What is USD Coin Used For?

The goal of USDC is to create a widely accepted ecosystem for digital payments. The technology behind it enables value exchange between people, businesses, and financial institutions. It is a preferred form of payment in emerging industries like decentralized finance (DeFi) and gaming. Furthermore, it provides a safe haven for crypto traders during times of market volatility, allowing them to preserve their capital without completely exiting the crypto market.

Risks Associated with Stablecoins

While stablecoins like USDC are designed to be stable, they are not without risks. Some risks that typically apply to these types of crypto assets include:

* **Issuer Risk:** This risk is related to the transparency and auditability of the issuer and their underlying asset reserves. If the real-world assets backing the stablecoin are not worth what the issuer claims, the value of the stablecoin could fall. There is also a risk that a user's right to redeem the stablecoin for its underlying asset may not be exercisable, for reasons including the issuer becoming insolvent or a "bank run" on the stablecoin's reserves. For example, USDC briefly de-pegged from the dollar in March 2023 when Circle revealed that a portion of its reserves were held at the failed Silicon Valley Bank.

* **Currency Risk:** Since many stablecoins are denominated in US Dollars, users who are trading using a different fiat currency (e.g., British Pounds) may be exposed to changes in the US Dollar exchange rate.

* **Regulatory Risk:** The regulatory landscape for stablecoins is rapidly evolving. In July 2025, the U.S. passed the GENIUS Act, which aims to create a federal regulatory system for stablecoins. Similarly, Hong Kong implemented a regulatory regime for stablecoin issuers in August 2025. These regulations may impact how stablecoins are issued, managed, and traded.