5 things you can do with USDC

Most people hear "stablecoin" and think it's only for people who trade Bitcoin. The reality is very different. USDC is a practical financial tool with real-world uses — especially if you send money internationally, want to save in dollars, or just need a faster alternative to traditional banking.

If you live in a country with an unstable local currency, holding USDC is like having a digital dollar savings account that no one can devalue. You don't need a US bank account, you don't need anyone's permission, and you can access your funds 24/7. Many people in Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia use USDC to protect their purchasing power against local inflation.

Traditional remittance services like Western Union or bank wires charge 5-10% in fees and take 3-5 business days. With USDC, you can send any amount across borders in minutes for less than $1 in fees. The recipient can hold the USDC, convert it to local currency on a local exchange, or spend it directly where accepted. It works especially well when both sender and receiver have crypto wallets set up.

USDC works like a peer-to-peer payment app, but without the platform taking a cut or imposing limits. Need to split rent, pay someone back for dinner, or settle up after a group trip? Send USDC from your wallet to theirs. It settles in seconds on networks like Base or Solana, and costs almost nothing. No waiting for bank transfers to clear.

Several platforms allow you to earn interest on USDC, similar to a savings account but typically at higher rates. Options range from centralized platforms like Coinbase (lower yield, simpler) to DeFi lending protocols like Aave or Compound (higher yield, more complexity). Rates vary, and all carry some risk — but for intermediate users willing to do the research, it's a way to put idle dollars to work. Always start small and understand the risks before committing significant amounts.

A growing number of merchants accept USDC directly or through payment processors like Circle's own infrastructure or third-party services. Some crypto debit cards also let you spend USDC anywhere that accepts Visa or Mastercard — the card converts your USDC to local currency at the point of sale. This makes USDC practical for everyday purchases, not just crypto-to-crypto transactions.

You don't need to use USDC for all five of these. Pick one use case that solves a real problem for you — maybe it's saving in dollars, maybe it's cheaper remittances — and start there. Our "How to buy your first USDC" guide walks you through the process step by step.