$USDC
What about $USDC?
Circle keeps $USDC stable, but... the circulating volume is decreasing. As of May 2025 — about $27 billion, down from $45 billion a year ago.
Why it matters:
$USDC was a major competitor to Tether ($USDT), but is now losing market share.
Reasons: regulatory risks in the US, loss of trust after banking scandals in 2023.
Circle is betting on tokenization — partnerships with Visa, support on Solana, Avalanche.
What's next:
If Circle doesn't grow adoption through DeFi/corporate solutions, USDC may become the “second default” for a long time.
But on the other hand — greater transparency and regulatory compliance play in favor in the long term.
For traders:
USDC is still one of the most reliable stablecoins. But diversification (for example, DAI or USDT) is advisable.