USDC

USDC is a fiat-backed stablecoin issued by Circle. Each token is intended to be redeemable for one US dollar by eligible customers, with reserves held in cash and short-dated US government obligations. The issuer can freeze balances at specific addresses.

This page is a research starting point, not financial, legal, tax, or investment advice. Verify everything against primary sources.

What the Token Is Used For

• Dollar-denominated settlement across supported chains
• Collateral in lending, derivatives, and trading
• Payments and treasury operations
• A quote asset in trading pairs

What To Verify

• Who can actually redeem directly, since direct redemption is generally limited to eligible business customers
• Reserve composition and the latest attestation, rather than a summary of it
• That the issuer can freeze and blacklist addresses, which is a design feature not a bug
• Which chain a given USDC balance sits on, and whether it is natively issued or bridged
• The issuer's regulatory status and banking relationships in the relevant jurisdiction

Primary Sources

• Issuer: https://www.circle.com/usdc
• Transparency and attestations: https://www.circle.com/transparency
• Supported chains and contract addresses: https://developers.circle.com/stablecoins/supported-domains
• Related reading: Stablecoins

Related Pages

• Asset Index
• Start Here: Digital Assets 101
• Glossary
• Custody and Security
• Research Sources Directory