DeFi
Decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols let you put your USDC to work without intermediaries. You can lend it for interest, provide liquidity on decentralized exchanges, or use it as collateral to borrow other assets. DeFi offers higher yields than centralized platforms, but comes with smart contract risk.
Lending Protocol
3Aave
The largest DeFi lending protocol. Deposit USDC to earn interest or use it as collateral to borrow.
Compound
Pioneer of DeFi lending. Simple, battle-tested protocol for earning interest on USDC.
Morpho
Lending optimizer that often offers better USDC rates than Aave or Compound by matching lenders directly with borrowers.
Decentralized Exchange
3Uniswap
The largest decentralized exchange. Swap any token for USDC or provide liquidity to earn trading fees.
Curve
Stablecoin-specialized DEX with deep USDC liquidity and low-slippage swaps between stablecoins.
Aerodrome
The largest DEX on Base. High USDC liquidity with AERO token rewards for liquidity providers.