$USDC is a leading stablecoin pegged 1:1 to the U.S. dollar, widely used in trading pairs across centralized (CEX) and decentralized exchanges (DEX) . It serves as a stable intermediary for crypto trading, enabling users to hedge against volatility by swapping assets like Bitcoin or Ethereum for USDC during market downturns . Popular pairs include **USDC/BTC**, **USDC/ETH**, and **USDC/USDT**, offering liquidity and low slippage . USDC’s multi-chain compatibility (Ethereum, Solana, etc.) enhances its utility in DeFi platforms like Uniswap and Curve Finance for yield farming and liquidity provision . Its transparency and regulatory compliance make it a trusted choice for traders .