$USDC - the second largest stablecoin ($32+ billion), backed by Visa, BlackRock, and Coinbase.

- Regulatory advantage: More transparent than USDT (which is not necessarily a good thing).

If Ripple acquires Circle, USDC will become a key asset in RippleNet and XRP Ledger, strengthening it in payments and DeFi.

USDC is weaker in trading but stronger in traditional finance - it has growth potential through banking partnerships.

Risks: Dependence on US regulators (e.g., SEC) and potential competition with RLUSD (Ripple's stablecoin).