$USDC
real-world asset • stablecoin
$USDC is a fiat-backed stablecoin pegged 1:1 to the U.S. dollar, issued by Circle in partnership with Coinbase under the Centre Consortium. Backed by a mix of cash and short-term U.S. Treasuries, $USDC emphasizes transparency, compliance, and interoperability across leading blockchains. It serves as a foundational digital dollar in both centralized and decentralized financial systems.
Use Case: $USDC provides price-stable, programmable value for trading pairs, DAO treasuries, cross-chain payments, and DeFi lending protocols, especially across Ethereum, Solana, Avalanche, and Base.
Key Concepts:
- Stablecoins — Cryptocurrencies pegged to stable assets like fiat for reduced volatility.
- $RLUSD — Yield-bearing stablecoin backed by short-term U.S. Treasuries.
- Depegging — When a stablecoin loses its peg temporarily or permanently.
- Stablecoin Risk Tier List — Framework for evaluating stablecoin safety and reliability.
Summary: $USDC is one of the most trusted and widely adopted stablecoins in the crypto ecosystem. Built for transparency and regulatory alignment, it acts as a core liquidity layer for DeFi, centralized exchanges, tokenized asset platforms, and enterprise-grade fintech integrations. Its strength lies in institutional-grade infrastructure, though newer models may offer yield and deeper programmability.