The uses for USDC (USD Coin) are as diverse as those for traditional fiat dollars. Today, most USDC activity revolves around four key areas:
- Global Access to Dollars
- Digital Asset Markets
- Payments
- Humanitarian Aid
Global Access to Dollars
Dollars are in high demand outside the U.S., both for commercial and personal use. Notably:
- Over 90% of trade invoicing in Latin America is conducted in dollars.
- 74% in Asia Pacific and 79% in non-European regions rely on the dollar for trade.
- More than $1 trillion in U.S. currency is held overseas, including 60% of all $100 bills.
USDC’s ease of access compared to traditional banking has fueled its adoption, particularly in emerging markets. Circle’s partnerships with fintechs and neobanks enable global distribution of USDC.
Key Partnerships
Nubank
- Role: Largest digital banking platform in Latin America (105M+ customers).
- Initiative: Integrated USDC for near-instant, low-cost dollar access in Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia.
Impact:
- 30% of crypto customers hold USDC.
- 50% of new users buy USDC as their first digital asset.
- 10x growth in USDC holdings (2024).
"USDC is a cornerstone of our strategy to empower customers with innovative financial solutions."
— Thomaz Fortes, Nubank Crypto GM
Lemon
- Offering: Dual wallets for fiat/crypto conversions, Visa card with crypto cashback.
- Growth: 61% increase in USDC holdings (12 months).
Stats:
- $137M USDC held by users.
- 21% more USDC holders YoY.
Chipper Cash (Africa)
- Focus: Cross-border remittances and treasury management via USDC.
- Licenses: 49 operational licenses globally.
Digital Asset Markets
2024 saw record adoption of digital assets, with USDC serving as a regulated stablecoin bridge between traditional and crypto markets.
Centralized Exchanges
- USDC balances on exchanges grew steadily in 2024.
- 69% of stablecoin trading volume in DeFi involved USDC.
Coinbase
- USDC on Base (Ethereum L2): $562B moved annually.
Bullish
- Volume: $1.3B daily USDC trades.
- Share: 83% of daily exchange volume.
dYdX (DeFi)
- Trading: $10B+ volume settled in USDC.
👉 Explore how USDC powers global crypto liquidity
Payments
USDC is transforming cross-border transactions ($150T market) by:
- Reducing costs and intermediaries.
- Enabling 24/7 settlements.
Case Studies
- Worldpay: First merchant acquirer to offer USDC settlements.
- Mastercard: USDC settlements for issuers/merchants since 2021.
- Stripe: Supports USDC payouts for platforms.
Humanitarian Aid
USDC addresses challenges in aid distribution:
- Speed: Transfers in seconds via blockchain.
- Transparency: Auditable trails for donors.
- Cost: <1 cent per transaction on some blockchains.
UNHCR
- Program: USDC aid for Ukrainian refugees (scaled to Argentina).
- Impact: Preserves value amid inflation.
Goodwall
- Mission: Upskilling youth in 170+ countries.
- Tool: USDC rewards for verified actions.
FAQs
1. Why is USDC popular in emerging markets?
- Demand for stable dollars + bypasses banking limitations.
2. How does USDC improve remittances?
- Faster, cheaper cross-border transfers vs. traditional systems.
3. Is USDC regulated?
- Yes, compliant with frameworks like MiCA (EU).
👉 Learn more about USDC’s global adoption
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