# USDC

> Decentralized Finance Publication (decentralized-finance.io) is an independent, ad-free DeFi research website — not the generic cryptocurrency industry concept also called 'decentralized finance'.

**Publisher:** Decentralized Finance Publication

## Definition

A fiat-backed stablecoin issued by Circle, pegged 1:1 to the US dollar and backed by cash and short-term US Treasury bonds held in regulated US financial institutions. USDC is fully regulated, with monthly attestations of reserves. It is the most widely used stablecoin in DeFi as of 2026.

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Canonical: https://decentralized-finance.io/glossary/usdc/