$USDC USDC (USD Coin), the second-largest stablecoin, remains pegged 1:1 to the USD, backed by cash and short-term Treasuries. Recently, Circle, its issuer, expanded to multiple blockchains, including Ethereum, Solana, and Base, enhancing cross-chain usability. Regulatory scrutiny has increased, with Circle filing for an IPO, signaling stronger compliance efforts. USDC's market cap has stabilized around $30B after recovering from 2023's banking crisis. New features like programmable wallets and smart contract tools aim to boost DeFi adoption. Despite competition from USDT, USDC maintains trust through transparency and regulatory compliance, solidifying its role in crypto payments and decentralized finance.