USDC: a bridge between banks, fintech, and web3
The role of USDC in the traditional and digital economy
As of August 2025, USDC (USDC) is the second-largest stablecoin by market capitalization after Tether (USDT) and is among the top ten leading digital assets in the crypto market. The market capitalization of the USDC stablecoin stands at $65.1 billion. USDC accounts for more than 23% of the capitalization of the entire stablecoin segment.
Over the 7 years since its launch in 2018, the USDC stablecoin has evolved from a simple trading instrument that protected traders and investors from high cryptocurrency market volatility into a part of the global payment infrastructure.
USDC in corporate payments and strategic partnerships
Analysts note that corporations are increasingly using USDC as a tool for managing financial flows. According to Deloitte, in 2024, 38% of Fortune 500 companies had already tested or implemented the use of stablecoins in their operational processes.
In 2024, Circle — the issuer of the USDC stablecoin — launched Circle Mint, a corporate platform for issuing and managing USDC. More than 120 major companies, including Mastercard, AT&T, and Siemens, are already connected to the Circle Mint platform. According to Circle, in the fourth quarter of 2024, the volume of USDC among corporate clients exceeded $9.4 billion.
According to analysts' calculations, if a unified accounting standard for stablecoins is adopted, by 2028, the volume of corporate USDC could exceed $100 billion.
In addition to launching its solutions, Circle is actively expanding its partner network. Some of the largest payment companies collaborating with Circle include Visa, Mastercard, and Stripe.
For example, since 2021, Visa has supported USDC settlements through Visa B2B Connect. In 2024, the platform processed $3.8 billion in USDC stablecoin transactions. Shortly, Visa Direct is expected to launch with USDC support and instant stablecoin payouts via API.
In 2022, Stripe integrated USDC by adding support for the stablecoin through Stripe Treasury. As a result, more than 30,000 merchants worldwide can accept USDC, and dozens of banks, including Evolve Bank & Trust, can hold reserves in this stablecoin. All of these point to USDC being recognized as a systemically important digital financial instrument, comparable to SWIFT or CHIPS.
Experts note that these partnerships are not marketing, but "a re-engineering of the global financial infrastructure." USDC allows payment systems to reduce costs, speed up settlements, and expand reach (especially in regions without banking services).
According to BIS forecasts, by 2026, all cross-border B2B payments under $1 million will be made using stablecoins, primarily USDC. Oracle estimates that by 2027, the share of USDC in corporate international payments could reach $500 billion per year if integration with ERP systems expands.
Experts believe that by 2026, 70% of payment giants will in some way support USDC as part of their digital strategy. Gartner estimates that 50% of S&P 500 companies will use USDC in at least one business process by 2026.
Circle Payments Network — a new stage in USDC's development
In 2025, Circle launched its platform for fast and inexpensive international payments, called the Circle Payments Network (CPN). The CPN platform is used not only for retail, but also for institutional and business payments.
The Circle Payments Network aims to unite banks, fintech companies, Web3 platforms, and digital wallets, giving users the ability to make transfers anytime without unnecessary costs. According to Circle, the CPN platform has already processed transactions totaling more than $180 million, with more than 60% of this amount coming from corporate clients.
Circle's participation in CBDC development
USDC can confidently be called a technological leader in the stablecoin segment, given the large number of developments by its issuer. In addition to developing its payment solutions with stablecoin support, Circle is one of the few players in the crypto market actively involved in the development of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).
For example, in 2023, the company became the official technology partner of the US Federal Reserve System (Fed) as part of the second phase of "Project Hamilton," which tested tokenized forms of the dollar.
The USDC issuer also cooperates with organizations such as:
- The European Central Bank (ECB) is launching a pilot project for the digital euro;
- The Bank of England to test tokenized bonds;
- The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) in "Project Guardian" is using USDC as a tool for international settlements.
According to analysts' forecasts, by 2027, at least five countries will launch their CBDCs developed based on Circle's architecture.
Success factors and development prospects for USDC
One of the most significant factors contributing to USDC's recognition among retail and institutional users has been its high transparency standards and regulatory compliance. Since 2021, Circle has conducted monthly audits of USDC reserves and published reports on its official website, verified by the well-known audit firm Grant Thornton LLP.
USDC is the only asset among the top ten stablecoins that fully complies with the Markets in Crypto-Assets legislation, which came into force in 2024. Circle has obtained all necessary licenses to provide USDC stablecoin services in the European Union.
In addition, USDC is the only stablecoin fully compliant with the FATF Travel Rule. Circle has implemented the Transaction Verification Service (TVS), which transmits payment data by FATF Recommendation 16. Circle also holds licenses:
- MSB in the USA,
- EMI in the EU,
- VASP in the UK and Singapore.
Beyond regulatory aspects, cost reduction has played an essential role in USDC's adoption. According to Circle, the average time to credit funds decreased from 3 days to 7 minutes compared to traditional cross-border transfer methods, while transfer costs fell by as much as 87%. These factors have been key drivers of the growing demand for USDC as a payment method.
Experts believe that shortly, USDC will not replace SWIFT and existing large payment systems, but will play a key role in particular niches such as e-commerce, freelancing, delivery, and payroll payments.
Experts forecast that Circle will continue to set standards for stablecoins. According to the Clarity for Payment Stablecoins Act, by 2026, all stablecoins in the US will be required to meet USDC standards. By 2027, USDC could become the benchmark for compliance for other tokenized assets such as bonds and deposits.
However, as experts note, the key obstacle to USDC's adoption in the traditional economy remains the lack of unified tax and accounting frameworks in different jurisdictions. For example, in Germany, USDC is considered a "monetary instrument," while in India, it is classified as a "virtual asset," complicating international audits.