I've recently optimized my portfolio by integrating $USDC as a strategic reserve asset. Instead of holding idle fiat, I've allocated about 15–20% of my capital in USDC to act as dry powder. This allows me to participate in DeFi lending protocols earning ~4% APY, while staying ready to deploy during market dips. For example, I used USDC to buy ETH at $2.45K after a sharp pullback, aiming for a bounce toward $2.7K. The transparency, monthly audits, and liquidity of USDC make it reliable for both hedging and yield generation . Adopting stablecoins as active portfolio tools has improved my flexibility, enabling disciplined entries without exiting the crypto ecosystem entirely.