$USDC refers to USD Coin, a type of stablecoin that is pegged 1:1 to the U.S. dollar. It is issued by Circle and governed by the Centre Consortium, which includes Coinbase. Unlike volatile cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum, $USDC is designed to maintain a stable value, making it ideal for payments, remittances, and trading on crypto exchanges. Every $USDC is backed by real U.S. dollar reserves or equivalent assets, and it’s regularly audited to ensure transparency. It operates on multiple blockchains, including Ethereum, Solana, and Avalanche. USDC is widely trusted in DeFi and is crucial in bridging traditional finance with the digital economy.