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What Is USD Coin (USDC)?
USD Coin (known by its ticker USDC) is a stablecoin that is pegged to the U.S. dollar on a 1:1 basis. Every unit of this cryptocurrency in circulation is backed up by $1 that is held in reserve, in a mix of cash and short-term U.S. Treasury bonds. The Centre consortium, which is behind this asset, says USDC is issued by regulated financial institutions.
The stablecoin originally launched on a limited basis in September 2018. Put simply, USD Coin’s mantra is “digital money for the digital age” — and the stablecoin is designed for a world where cashless transactions are becoming more common.
Several use cases have been unveiled for the USD Coin. As well as providing a safe haven for crypto traders in times of volatility, those behind the stablecoin say it can also allow businesses to accept payments in digital assets, and shake up an array of sectors including decentralized finance and gaming.
Overall, the goal is to create an ecosystem where USDC is accepted by as many wallets, exchanges, service providers and dApps as possible.
Who Are the Founders of USD Coin?
The Centre Consortium has two founding members. One of them is the peer-to-peer payment services company Circle, while the other is the Coinbase cryptocurrency exchange. Other crypto ventures are open to join this consortium.
Explaining the rationale behind USDC, Circle co-founders Jeremy Allaire and Sean Neville wrote: “We believe that an open internet of value exchange can transform and integrate the world more deeply, eventually eliminating artificial economic borders and enabling a more efficient and inclusive global marketplace that connects every person on the planet.”
In 2020, Circle and Coinbase collectively announced a major upgrade to USDC’s protocol and smart contract. The goal of these enhancements is to make it easier for USD Coin to be used for everyday payments, commerce and peer-to-peer transactions.
What is USD Coin Bridged?
USD Coin Bridged (USDC.e) represents a unique adaptation of the stablecoin USD Coin (USDC), designed to enhance interoperability across different blockchain networks. Unlike native USDC, which is issued by regulated financial institutions and pegged to the U.S. dollar, USD Coin Bridged is a version that has been transferred from the Ethereum blockchain to the Avalanche network via the Avalanche Bridge. This bridging process allows USDC.e to operate on blockchains not directly managed by Circle, the company behind USDC, thereby expanding its utility and reach.
The concept of bridging is crucial in the blockchain ecosystem, as it enables assets like USDC.e to be used across multiple platforms, facilitating seamless transactions and interactions. This is particularly important for decentralized finance (DeFi) applications, where liquidity and cross-chain compatibility are essential. Despite its broader utility, USDC.e cannot be used in Circle's products, distinguishing it from its native counterpart.
USD Coin, in its original form, serves as a stable and reliable digital currency, backed by a mix of cash and short-term U.S. Treasury bonds. Its creation by the Centre Consortium, including Circle and Coinbase, underscores a vision for a cashless, interconnected global economy. The introduction of USDC.e further aligns with this vision by promoting a more inclusive financial system through enhanced blockchain interoperability.
What is the technology behind USD Coin Bridged?
The world of digital finance is constantly evolving, and USD Coin Bridged (USDC.e) stands as a testament to this innovation. At its core, USDC.e is a product of the Avalanche Bridge, a sophisticated technology that allows the seamless transfer of USD Coin (USDC) from the Ethereum blockchain to the Avalanche blockchain. This bridging process creates a "bridged form" of USDC, known as USDC.e, enabling users to leverage the benefits of both blockchain ecosystems.
The Avalanche blockchain, where USDC.e operates, is renowned for its high throughput and low latency, making it an attractive platform for decentralized applications. Avalanche employs a unique consensus mechanism known as Avalanche Consensus, which is designed to be fast, scalable, and secure. This consensus protocol allows thousands of transactions per second, ensuring that the network remains efficient even as it scales. The security of the Avalanche blockchain is further bolstered by its use of a decentralized network of validators, which work together to confirm transactions and maintain the integrity of the blockchain. This decentralized approach makes it difficult for bad actors to execute attacks, as they would need to control a significant portion of the network to succeed.
Crypto bridging, the technology behind USD Coin Bridged, is a crucial component in the interoperability of blockchains. It allows different blockchain networks to communicate and interact with each other, facilitating the transfer of assets like USDC across platforms. This interoperability is essential for creating a cohesive digital economy where assets can move freely between different blockchain ecosystems. The stablecoin USDC, which is pegged to the US dollar on a 1:1 basis, plays a vital role in this process. Each USDC in circulation is backed by $1 held in reserve, ensuring its stability and reliability as a digital dollar.
While USDC.e offers the flexibility of using USDC on the Avalanche blockchain, it's important to note that Circle products do not support USDC.e. This means that USDC.e cannot be used in Circle's APIs or deposited into a Circle Account for conversion to fiat currency. Despite this limitation, USDC.e provides a valuable tool for users looking to engage with the Avalanche ecosystem.
The creation of USDC.e is part of a broader vision to integrate digital currencies into everyday transactions. The Centre Consortium, which includes Circle and Coinbase, has been instrumental in developing USDC as a stablecoin that can be used for a variety of purposes, from trading and payments to decentralized finance and gaming. The goal is to create a global marketplace where USDC is widely accepted, facilitating a more inclusive and efficient economy.
The technology behind USD Coin Bridged is a reflection of the ongoing efforts to enhance the usability and accessibility of digital currencies. By enabling the transfer of stablecoins like USDC across different blockchains, technologies like the Avalanche Bridge are paving the way for a more interconnected and versatile financial landscape.
What are the real-world applications of USD Coin Bridged?
USD Coin Bridged (USDC.e) serves as a bridge between traditional finance and the digital world, offering a stablecoin solution that is pegged to the U.S. dollar. Unlike its native counterpart, USDC.e on Avalanche is specifically designed for cross-chain transactions, enhancing its utility across various blockchain networks. This makes it a valuable tool for facilitating remittances and currency conversions, providing a cost-effective way to manage cross-border transactions.
USDC.e is instrumental in reshaping global transactions by offering payment connectivity and dollar-backed financial services. It is widely used for trading on cryptocurrency exchanges, providing a stable asset that can act as a hedge against market volatility. This stability is crucial for users who wish to avoid the unpredictable swings often associated with other cryptocurrencies.
In the realm of decentralized finance (DeFi), USDC.e unlocks new opportunities for money management through stablecoin protocols and Web3 services. It enables users to off-ramp back to fiat currency seamlessly, making it easier to transition between digital and traditional financial systems. Additionally, USDC.e can be minted and deposited into a Circle Account, although it cannot be used in Circle products directly.
USDC.e's availability across all Orbit chains further enhances its cross-chain capabilities, allowing for diverse use cases in various blockchain ecosystems. This flexibility is essential for users who require a stablecoin that can operate across different platforms without losing its value or functionality.
While USDC.e offers numerous applications, it is important to note that it is distinct from native USDC and has specific limitations, such as its incompatibility with certain Circle products. Despite these differences, USDC.e remains a powerful tool for those looking to leverage stablecoins in a rapidly evolving digital economy.
What key events have there been for USD Coin Bridged?
USD Coin Bridged (USDC.e) represents a significant development in the realm of stablecoins, offering a bridged version of USD Coin (USDC) on Ethereum. This innovation is part of the broader effort to enhance interoperability across blockchain networks. The journey of USDC.e began with the launch of USD Coin in September 2018, which was initially introduced as a stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar, aiming to facilitate digital transactions in a cashless world.
The introduction of USD Coin on Avalanche marked a pivotal moment, expanding its reach and utility. This move was complemented by the availability of Bridged USDC Standard on Orbit chains, further enhancing its integration across various blockchain ecosystems. These developments underscore the strategic efforts to position USDC.e as a versatile digital asset within the decentralized finance landscape.
Circle, one of the founding members of the Centre Consortium, has played a crucial role in the evolution of USDC.e. The company announced the use of USDC for remittances and cross-border transactions, highlighting its potential to streamline global financial operations. This initiative aligns with Circle's broader vision of creating an open internet of value exchange, which aims to eliminate economic barriers and foster a more inclusive global marketplace.
The integration of USDC into Circle's Web3 Services represents another significant milestone. This integration is designed to leverage the capabilities of blockchain technology to enhance the functionality and accessibility of USDC.e, thereby supporting a wide range of applications from decentralized finance to gaming.
It is essential to distinguish between native USDC on Avalanche and USDC.e, the latter being a bridged form of USDC on Ethereum. This distinction is crucial for understanding the specific use cases and technical nuances associated with each version of the stablecoin.
Partnerships with major companies such as Sony and Oasys have further cemented the position of USDC.e in the digital economy. These collaborations are indicative of the growing acceptance and integration of stablecoins in mainstream financial and technological sectors.
The steady increase in trading volume and adoption of USDC.e reflects its growing importance in the cryptocurrency market. This trend is indicative of the broader acceptance of stablecoins as reliable digital assets for various financial activities.
The Centre Consortium, with Circle and Coinbase as its founding members, continues to drive the development and adoption of USDC.e. Their efforts are focused on creating a robust ecosystem where USDC.e is widely accepted by wallets, exchanges, service providers, and decentralized applications (dApps). This ongoing development is pivotal in realizing the vision of a seamless digital economy powered by stablecoins like USDC.e.
Who are the founders of USD Coin Bridged?
USD Coin Bridged (USDC.e) emerges as a stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar, designed for seamless digital transactions. The masterminds behind this innovation are Jeremy Allaire and Sean Neville, co-founders of Circle, in collaboration with Coinbase. Their vision, articulated through the Centre Consortium, aims to revolutionize global economic interactions by fostering an open internet of value exchange. This initiative seeks to transcend economic borders, enhancing global marketplace efficiency. The stablecoin, launched in 2018, is backed by regulated financial institutions, ensuring each USDC is supported by $1 in reserve, blending cash and short-term U.S. Treasury bonds.
The live USD Coin Bridged price today is $0.999972 USD with a 24-hour trading volume of $197,507,368 USD. We update our USDC.e to USD price in real-time. USD Coin Bridged is down 0.01% in the last 24 hours. The current CoinMarketCap ranking is #10144, with a live market cap of $682,712,175 USD. It has a circulating supply of 682,731,275 USDC.E coins and the max. supply is not available.