$USDC or USD Coin, is a fully-backed stablecoin pegged 1:1 to the U.S. dollar. Issued by Circle and governed by the Centre consortium, it provides a stable digital currency for transactions, trading, and decentralized finance (DeFi). Each USDC is backed by a reserve of U.S. dollars or equivalent assets, held in regulated financial institutions and subject to regular audits. USDC is widely used across blockchain ecosystems like Ethereum, Solana, and others, offering low volatility and fast transfer speeds. It plays a key role in bridging traditional finance with crypto, supporting global commerce, remittances, and yield-generating DeFi opportunities.