$USDC 1. USDC as collateral for futures in the USA

Coinbase Derivatives, together with Nodal Clear, have applied to the CFTC to allow the use of USDC as collateral in margin trading of futures in the USA — the first case for a stablecoin in this area. The new system is expected to launch in 2026.

🛒 2. Coinbase Payment Solution – USDC Checkout

Coinbase has launched a large-scale payment stack (via Layer-2 Base) with the ability to settle in USDC for merchants. A partnership with Shopify allows sellers to accept the stablecoin with minimal fees (<0.1%) and instant confirmation.

👥 3. GENIUS Act: Senate Passes Legislation on Stablecoins

The US Senate has approved the “GENIUS Act” — a law that ensures a 1:1 reserve backing, monthly reserve audits, and AML requirements for stablecoins. After moving to the House of Representatives, the market volume of USDC increased, and shares of Circle and Coinbase saw significant growth.

💵 4. Growth of USDC Reserves on Solana

Circle minted an additional $250 million USDC on the Solana blockchain — a testament to the growing popularity of USDC in the DeFi segment.

📊 5. Circle's Valuation Growth After IPO

Circle (NYSE: CRCL) completed its IPO on June 5, 2025, at $31, which increased to $83+ on the first day and is now trading in the range of $160–173 (market capitalization over $30 billion).