$USDC (USD Coin) is a stablecoin pegged 1:1 to the U.S. dollar, issued by Circle and governed by the Centre consortium, originally founded by Circle and Coinbase. It is built on various blockchains like Ethereum, Solana, and Avalanche, allowing fast, low-cost digital dollar transactions globally. USDC is fully backed by reserve assets held in regulated financial institutions, with monthly audits ensuring transparency. It is widely used in DeFi, crypto trading, remittances, and payments. Unlike volatile cryptocurrencies, USDC offers price stability, making it a popular choice for investors seeking to park funds or move money across the blockchain ecosystem securely.