USDC on Flow
Everything you need to know about USDC on Flow: consumer apps, NFT marketplaces, NBA Top Shot, and how to get started.
< $0.001
~3 sec
FLOW
September 2022
A.b19436aae4d94622.FiatToken
About USDC on Flow
Flow is a blockchain built by Dapper Labs, the company behind CryptoKitties and NBA Top Shot. It was designed from the ground up for consumer applications, with a focus on NFTs, gaming, and mainstream user experiences.
USDC on Flow is native, issued directly by Circle. The network has a unique multi-role architecture where different nodes handle different parts of transaction processing (collection, consensus, execution, and verification), allowing it to scale without sharding. This means every node doesn't need to process every transaction, improving throughput.
Flow's strength is in consumer-facing apps. NBA Top Shot brought millions of non-crypto-native users onto Flow. NFL All Day and UFC Strike followed. These apps use USDC for marketplace transactions, allowing users to buy and sell digital collectibles with stable value rather than volatile crypto.
Flow has been investing in EVM compatibility through FlowEVM, which allows Ethereum developers to deploy Solidity smart contracts on Flow. This broadens the potential developer base significantly. The network also supports Cadence, Flow's native smart contract language designed for digital asset management.
Fees on Flow are very low (typically under $0.001) and transactions finalize quickly. The FLOW token is used for gas fees, staking, and governance. For USDC, Flow makes the most sense if you're interacting with Dapper Labs products, Flow-based NFT marketplaces, or consumer apps that have chosen Flow as their blockchain.
Ecosystem
Flow's ecosystem centers around consumer applications. NBA Top Shot, NFL All Day, and UFC Strike are the marquee apps, with millions of users and significant marketplace volume in USDC. IncrementFi is Flow's native DeFi protocol offering swaps and lending. FlowEVM is expanding the ecosystem by enabling Ethereum developers to deploy on Flow. Alchemy and other infrastructure providers support Flow. The ecosystem is smaller than Ethereum or Solana but has a unique strength in bringing mainstream audiences to blockchain through sports, entertainment, and gaming.
Getting started
Create a Flow wallet through Dapper Wallet (for consumer apps) or Flow Wallet (for developer and DeFi use). If you're using NBA Top Shot or other Dapper Labs products, you likely already have a Dapper account that can hold USDC. For self-custody, use Flow Wallet or Blocto. You need a small amount of FLOW for transaction fees. You can bridge USDC from other chains using Celer Bridge, or purchase USDC within Dapper-powered apps using a credit card.