Stablecoin USDC in International Payments
USDC has long ceased to be an asset that raises questions like “What is USDC?”. Today it has become a full-fledged instrument that connects banks, the fintech sector, and Web3. In essence, it is a bridge between traditional finance and the digital economy.
As of September 2025, USDC retains its position as the second-largest stablecoin by market capitalization after the market leader. Its market value exceeds $70 billion, accounting for approximately 24% of the entire stablecoin segment’s capitalization. Since its launch in 2018, USDC has evolved from a protective tool for investors into a key element of the global payment systеm.
Corporate Payments in USDC
Today, large corporations are increasingly turning their attention to stablecoins, especially USDC. If in the past it was primarily a tool for traders, now it is also being used for managing business cash flows.
According to the Coinbase report State of Crypto Q2 2025, 60% of Fortune 500 companies are already developing blockchain projects, and one in five executives considers on-chain initiatives strategically important for their business. The demand for stablecoins is rapidly growing: supply has increased by 54% in a year, and the user base has reached 161 million people — more than the combined population of the world’s ten largest cities. All this demonstrates that digital assets are no longer seen as an “experiment” but are becoming part of corporate finance.
Circle, the company that issues USDC, launched the Circle Mint platform in 2024. This service allows businesses to directly issue and manage USDC. Not startups, but global giants such as Visa, Stripe, OKX, and others have connected to it. Since its launch, more than 333 billion USDC has already been issued through Circle Mint.
Key Partners of USDC
Today, USDC is not only a product of Circle but also an entire ecosystem of partnerships, with major players such as Visa and Stripe playing key roles.
- Visa integrated USDC into its B2B Connect systеm back in 2021 — a service for international corporate settlements. By 2025, it had processed transactions worth $225 million. In the near future, Visa plans to launch Visa Direct with USDC support, enabling instant stablecoin payouts via API.
- Stripe integrated USDC in 2022 through its Stripe Treasury product. This allowed online merchants worldwide to accept payments in USDC. Additionally, dozens of banks, including Evolve Bank & Trust, gained the ability to hold reserves in this stablecoin.
Thus, USDC is no longer just a digital token — it is becoming a systemic instrument comparable in scale to infrastructures such as SWIFT or CHIPS, which underpin the global financial systеm. Experts emphasize that this is not marketing hype but a genuine restructuring of global payment processes. USDC reduces costs, accelerates settlements, and makes payments accessible even in regions where traditional banking services are unavailable.
Circle Payments Network (CPN)
In May 2025, Circle took another strategic step by launching its own payment network — Circle Payments Network (CPN). In essence, it is a “new SWIFT,” but faster, cheaper, and more accessible.
CPN is suitable for all types of settlements: from retail transfers to large corporate and institutional payments. The core idea is to unite banks, fintech services, Web3 platforms, and digital wallets into one systеm.
For users, this means the ability to transfer money anytime without excessive costs. The demand is evident: according to Circle, in Q2 2025 more than 100 organizations already used CPN to conduct payments. Thus, businesses are beginning to view CPN not as an experiment but as a real alternative to traditional international payment systems.
Why USDC is Trusted and Where It Is Headed
One of the main factors behind USDC’s success is its transparency and strict compliance with regulations. Since 2018, Circle has published monthly reserve reports, audited by the major firm Grant Thornton LLP. This builds trust among both retail users and corporations.
Another key advantage is compliance with regulatory requirements. Of the ten largest stablecoins, only USDC fully complies with the European MiCA regulation, which came into force in 2024. Circle officially obtained licenses to operate in the European uniоn.
Moreover, USDC is the only major stablecoin fully adhering to the FATF Travel Rule. To achieve this, Circle implemented the Transaction Verification Service (TVS), which transmits transaction data in accordance with international standards. As of now, Circle holds licenses in several key jurisdictions:
- MSB — United States;
- EMI — European uniоn;
- VASP — United Kingdom and Singapore.
But it’s not just about regulation. Another crucial argument in favor of USDC is its efficiency. While traditional cross-border transfers can take up to 3 days, USDC transactions take an average of 7 minutes, and transaction costs are reduced by almost 87%. For businesses and freelancers, this difference is highly significant.
Analysts believe that USDC will not completely rеplace SWIFT in the coming years but will secure its own niche in areas such as e-commerce, freelancing, logistics, and payroll payments.
Furthermore, Circle is gradually positioning USDC as the market standard. According to the Clarity for Payment Stablecoins Act, by 2026 all stablecoins in the United States will be required to meet the same standards that USDC already complies with today.
Conclusion
USDC has evolved from a supplementary tool for traders into a full-fledged systemic asset. Today it bridges traditional finance and the digital economy, opens up new opportunities for corporations, and is becoming a real part of the global financial infrastructure.