$USDC is a fully-backed stablecoin pegged 1:1 to the US dollar, issued by Circle and governed by the Centre Consortium. It's widely used for trading, remittances, DeFi, and cross-border payments due to its stability and transparency. USDC is audited monthly and backed by cash and short-term U.S. Treasuries. It operates across multiple blockchains like Ethereum, Solana, and Avalanche, making it a key player in the digital asset ecosystem.