$USDC (USD Coin) is, in my opinion, a fundamental piece of growing importance in the current crypto ecosystem. As a stablecoin backed by the US dollar, its main strength lies in its promise of 1:1 parity with the USD, making it a refuge from volatility for traders and investors, and an efficient facilitator for cross-border payments and remittances.

Its credibility is based on transparency: its reserves are regularly audited and published by the Centre Consortium (composed of Circle and Coinbase). This has allowed it to gain a considerable market share and be widely adopted on DeFi platforms, centralized exchanges, and wallets, serving as a liquid bridge between traditional finance and the decentralized world.

However, its centralized nature is also its main point of debate. Being issued by an entity and relying on traditional bank accounts for its reserves, it is subject to regulations and potential censorship. This contrasts with Bitcoin's ideal of decentralization. Despite this, the reliability and liquidity that USDC offers surpass, for many, the concerns about its centralization, consolidating it as an essential asset for the stability and operability of the crypto asset market in 2025.