$USDC
đȘ What is USDC?
USDC is a U.S. dollarâpegged stablecoin issued by Circle. Launched in 2018, it operates across multiple blockchains (Ethereum, Solana, Polygon, and more) and is fully backed by liquid reservesâmainly cash and U.S. Treasury assetsâwith monthly attestations by a Big Four auditor .
đ Why USDC matters now
1. Institutional legitimacy
Circle went public on June 5, 2025, under the ticker CRCL, fueling Wall Street confidenceâits stock soared over 300% on debut .
2. Regulatory momentum
The U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan GENIUS Act on June 17, 2025, a landmark framework for regulated stablecoins. USDC, as the second-largest with ~$61âŻbillion market cap, stands to benefit from enhanced oversight .
3. Growing adoption
Major platformsâShopify, Rippleâs XRP Ledger, Sony, and SBI in Japanâare integrating USDC. Corporates and banks are exploring stablecoin utility for cross-border payments and instant settlements .
đ Current price & stability
Trading around $0.036 on certain bridge networks (e.g., Fantom) â this reflects its value in wrapped or bridged forms. Across major exchanges, USDC remains tightly pegged to $1 (e.g., $0.9999 on Yahoo Finance) .
Its peg stability is supported by high transparency and resilience, even during past liquidity events like SVB .
â ïž Key risks & considerations
Regulatory shifts: While frameworks like the GENIUS Act offer clarity, they may impose stricter requirementsâpotentially affecting liquid yield and reserve management .
Interest rate exposure: Circle earns interest on US Treasury reserve income. With U.S. rate cuts expected in late 2025, revenue from reserves may drop, possibly impacting the company's financial performance .
â Summary
USDC stands as one of the most stable and transparently backed digital dollars, with strong institutional support and rapidly growing adoption. Regulatory advancements appear to bolster its legitimacy, though future developments in policy and interest rates warrant close attention.