USDC (USD Coin)
A regulated, fully-backed stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar. Each USDC is redeemable for $1.
USDC is issued by Circle and is one of the most widely used stablecoins. It's available on 29+ blockchains including Ethereum, Solana, Base, and Arbitrum.
What sets USDC apart is transparency. Reserves are held in U.S. Treasury securities and cash at regulated financial institutions, and Deloitte & Touche LLP performs monthly attestation examinations to verify that reserves meet or exceed the amount of USDC in circulation.
USDC is used for payments, trading, DeFi, remittances, and as a store of value. It can be purchased on most major exchanges and through services like Coinbase.
Related Terms
Stablecoin
A cryptocurrency designed to maintain a stable value, usually pegged 1:1 to a fiat currency like the U.S. dollar.
Peg
The target price a stablecoin is designed to maintain, typically $1.00 for dollar-pegged stablecoins.
Reserves
The pool of real-world assets (U.S. Treasuries, cash) held to back each USDC token at a 1:1 ratio.
Attestation
An independent third-party examination that verifies USDC reserves meet or exceed the amount of USDC in circulation.
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This definition is provided for educational purposes. USDC.org is an independent resource and is not affiliated with Circle Internet Financial.