$USDC

# USD Coin (USDC)

USD Coin is a regulated stablecoin pegged 1:1 to the US dollar, launched in 2018 by Circle and Coinbase through the CENTRE consortium. Unlike more volatile cryptocurrencies, USDC maintains price stability through full reserve backing, with each token supported by dollars held in regulated financial institutions. These reserves undergo monthly attestations by accounting firms, providing transparency. USDC operates across multiple blockchains including Ethereum, Solana, and Avalanche, facilitating cross-chain transactions. Its primary use cases include faster cross-border payments, reduced-fee remittances, DeFi lending/borrowing, and trading pair stability on exchanges. As institutional adoption grows, USDC has emerged as a preferred stablecoin for regulated entities due to its compliance focus, making it central to cryptocurrency payment infrastructure while positioning it favorably amid increasing stablecoin regulation.