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Economic Times
18-07-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
This little-known stablecoin just surged 337%, and it's turning heads in the business world
USDC experienced a remarkable 337% surge in usage, driven by Europe's MiCA regulations, positioning it as a leading cryptocurrency for payments, even surpassing Tether. Bitcoin rebounded as a top payment choice, while Layer-2 networks like Polygon and Base gained traction. Businesses increasingly retain crypto payments, viewing them as valuable assets, with USDC dominating merchant payouts. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads USDC's Rise: A 337% Surge That No One Saw Coming The Catalyst: Europe's MiCA Regulation Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Bitcoin Rebounds as a Payments Leader Layer-2 Networks Gain Momentum Businesses Are Holding Their Crypto, Not Cashing Out FAQs While Bitcoin continues to make headlines with its latest price swings, the real surprise in the crypto world this year hasn't been about volatility, but one that could reshape how businesses and consumers think about cryptocurrency transactions, and leading that shift is a stablecoin , as per a to CoinGate's H1 2025 Crypto Payments Report, USDC saw a 337% jump in usage during the first half of the year, as reported by Benzinga. That surge pushed it into the top five most-used cryptocurrencies for payments, capturing 68% of all crypto payout activity and even overtaking longtime leader Tether (USDT) by June, as per the reason for USDC's rise wasn't hype, but it was because of regulation, according to the report. Europe's new Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework forced payment processors to cut back on USDT support because of compliance concerns, as reported by Benzinga. That gave USDC an opportunity to step up as businesses and consumers migrated to the Circle-issued stablecoin for its regulatory compliance and multi-blockchain availability, according to the said, 'This regulatory shift didn't just change the rules—it revealed who was truly ready for the institutionalization of crypto,' as reported by READ: AI stocks in bubble trouble - are Nvidia, Microsoft in danger? Economist says it's worse than the Dot-Com crash of 1999 Meanwhile, Bitcoin made an unexpected comeback, despite predictions that newer coins and faster networks would render it obsolete for everyday use, according to the report. Bitcoin reclaimed its spot as the most-used cryptocurrency for payments in the second quarter, accounting for over 23% of total transaction volume, as reported by significant technical development was the massive growth of Layer-2 networks, as reported by Benzinga. Polygon rose 117% in transactions compared to 2024, while newcomer Base, which was launched in February, quickly captured attention with 59% of its transactions involving USDC, as reported by Arbitrum accounted for more than 9% of total USDC transactions, according to the report. These networks improved transaction speed, reduced costs, and also made crypto payments accessible to a broader range of businesses and consumers who previously found blockchain transactions too expensive or slow, as reported by READ: Why can't this Wells Fargo banker leave China? The Chenyue Mao case everyone's talking about In the first half of 2025, 40.9% of all crypto payments were settled in digital currency, which is a 14% increase over last year, and a strong signal that businesses are starting to view crypto as more than just a payment rail, they're treating it like an asset worth holding, according to the led the way in merchant payouts with a 68% share, followed by Bitcoin at 17%, this suggests that regulatory compliance and price stability are driving business preferences, as per the in Europe made Tether harder to use, so businesses switched to the more compliant It saw a 337% jump in payment use in just six months.
Time of India
18-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
This little-known stablecoin just surged 337%, and it's turning heads in the business world
USDC's Rise: A 337% Surge That No One Saw Coming The Catalyst: Europe's MiCA Regulation Live Events Bitcoin Rebounds as a Payments Leader Layer-2 Networks Gain Momentum Businesses Are Holding Their Crypto, Not Cashing Out FAQs (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel While Bitcoin continues to make headlines with its latest price swings, the real surprise in the crypto world this year hasn't been about volatility, but one that could reshape how businesses and consumers think about cryptocurrency transactions, and leading that shift is a stablecoin , as per a to CoinGate's H1 2025 Crypto Payments Report, USDC saw a 337% jump in usage during the first half of the year, as reported by Benzinga. That surge pushed it into the top five most-used cryptocurrencies for payments, capturing 68% of all crypto payout activity and even overtaking longtime leader Tether (USDT) by June, as per the reason for USDC's rise wasn't hype, but it was because of regulation, according to the report. Europe's new Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework forced payment processors to cut back on USDT support because of compliance concerns, as reported by Benzinga. That gave USDC an opportunity to step up as businesses and consumers migrated to the Circle-issued stablecoin for its regulatory compliance and multi-blockchain availability, according to the said, 'This regulatory shift didn't just change the rules—it revealed who was truly ready for the institutionalization of crypto,' as reported by READ: AI stocks in bubble trouble - are Nvidia, Microsoft in danger? Economist says it's worse than the Dot-Com crash of 1999 Meanwhile, Bitcoin made an unexpected comeback, despite predictions that newer coins and faster networks would render it obsolete for everyday use, according to the report. Bitcoin reclaimed its spot as the most-used cryptocurrency for payments in the second quarter, accounting for over 23% of total transaction volume, as reported by significant technical development was the massive growth of Layer-2 networks, as reported by Benzinga. Polygon rose 117% in transactions compared to 2024, while newcomer Base, which was launched in February, quickly captured attention with 59% of its transactions involving USDC, as reported by Arbitrum accounted for more than 9% of total USDC transactions, according to the report. These networks improved transaction speed, reduced costs, and also made crypto payments accessible to a broader range of businesses and consumers who previously found blockchain transactions too expensive or slow, as reported by READ: Why can't this Wells Fargo banker leave China? The Chenyue Mao case everyone's talking about In the first half of 2025, 40.9% of all crypto payments were settled in digital currency, which is a 14% increase over last year, and a strong signal that businesses are starting to view crypto as more than just a payment rail, they're treating it like an asset worth holding, according to the led the way in merchant payouts with a 68% share, followed by Bitcoin at 17%, this suggests that regulatory compliance and price stability are driving business preferences, as per the in Europe made Tether harder to use, so businesses switched to the more compliant It saw a 337% jump in payment use in just six months.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
This Under-the-Radar Stablecoin Just Exploded 337%—And It's Reshaping How Businesses Think About Crypto
Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. The crypto payments landscape just experienced its most dramatic shift in years, and it's not what most investors saw coming. While Bitcoin grabbed headlines with its price volatility, a quieter revolution was unfolding in the world of digital commerce—one that could reshape how businesses and consumers think about cryptocurrency transactions. The Stablecoin Shakeup That Changed Everything According to CoinGate's H1 2025 Crypto Payments Report, USDC usage exploded by 337% in the first half of 2025, catapulting it into the top five cryptocurrencies and capturing a dominant 68% share of all crypto payouts. This wasn't just growth—it was a seismic shift that saw USDC overtake Tether in payment volume by June. Don't Miss: — no wallets, just price speculation and free paper trading to practice different strategies. Grow your IRA or 401(k) with Crypto – . The catalyst? Europe's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulations, which forced payment processors to phase out USDT support due to compliance concerns. What seemed like a regulatory headache became USDC's golden opportunity, as businesses and consumers migrated en masse to the Circle-issued (NYSE:CRCL) stablecoin for its regulatory compliance and multi-blockchain availability. 'This regulatory shift didn't just change the rules—it revealed who was truly ready for the institutionalization of crypto,' says the report. The speed at which the market adapted suggests that businesses were already looking for more compliant alternatives. Bitcoin's Unexpected Comeback Story While stablecoins dominated the narrative, Bitcoin quietly reclaimed its throne as the most-used cryptocurrency in Q2, securing 23.3% of the overall blockchain network share for H1. This resurgence coincided with the decline of Tron-based USDT transactions, creating space for the original cryptocurrency to reassert its dominance. The data reveals something crucial: despite years of predictions about Bitcoin's obsolescence as a payment method, it remains the backbone of crypto commerce. 'The original cryptocurrency isn't going anywhere,' the report emphasizes, challenging the notion that newer, faster alternatives would inevitably replace BTC in everyday transactions. Trending: New to crypto? on Coinbase. Layer-2 Networks: The Unsung Heroes of Crypto Payments Perhaps the most significant technical development was the explosive growth of Layer-2 networks. Polygon saw a 117% increase in transactions compared to all of 2024, while newcomer Base—launched in February—quickly captured attention with 59% of its transactions involving USDC. Arbitrum joined the party, accounting for over 9% of total USDC transactions. These networks didn't just improve transaction speed and reduce costs—they made crypto payments accessible to a broader range of businesses and consumers who previously found blockchain transactions too expensive or slow. Merchants Are HODLing: The Confidence Indicator Here's where the story gets really interesting for investors: merchants are keeping their crypto. Crypto settlements rose to 40.9% of all activity in H1 2025—a 14% increase from the previous year. This signals a fundamental shift in how businesses view cryptocurrency, treating it as a treasury asset rather than just a payment rail. USDC emerged as the clear favorite for merchant payouts with 68% usage, while Bitcoin captured 17% of the payout market. This preference reveals something important about institutional adoption: when businesses choose what to hold, they gravitate toward regulatory compliance and stability. What This Means for Investors The CoinGate report reveals three critical investment themes: Regulatory Compliance is the New Moat: USDC's 337% surge demonstrates that regulatory clarity creates massive competitive advantages. Investors should watch for similar compliance-driven shifts in other crypto sectors. Infrastructure Matters More Than Headlines: While Bitcoin's price movements capture attention, the real money is being made in the infrastructure layer. Layer-2 networks and compliant stablecoins are where the adoption growth is happening. Institutional Adoption is Accelerating: When 40.9% of merchants choose to hold crypto rather than convert to fiat, it signals genuine confidence in digital assets as store of value, not just payment Risks and Roadblocks Ahead Despite the positive trends, several challenges remain. The market's quick adaptation to MiCA regulations showed resilience, but it also highlighted how dependent crypto payments are on regulatory stability. A slight dip in April, caused by USDT volume disruptions, demonstrated how quickly regulatory changes can impact transaction volumes. Additionally, the concentration of power in a few major stablecoins creates systemic risks. USDC's dominance, while positive for compliance, also means that any issues with Circle or regulatory changes affecting USDC could have outsized market impacts. The Bottom Line The crypto payments landscape is maturing faster than many realized. The shift from USDT to USDC wasn't just about regulatory compliance—it revealed a market ready for institutional-grade infrastructure. Combined with Bitcoin's resilience and the success of Layer-2 networks, the data suggests that crypto payments are moving from experimental technology to business-critical infrastructure. For investors, this evolution signals opportunity in the infrastructure layer of crypto—the networks, protocols, and services that enable commerce rather than just speculation. The 337% surge in USDC usage isn't just a number; it's a roadmap for where the smart money is heading in the crypto payments revolution. Read Next: Named a TIME Best Invention and Backed by 5,000+ Users, Kara's Air-to-Water Pod Cuts Plastic and Costs — This article This Under-the-Radar Stablecoin Just Exploded 337%—And It's Reshaping How Businesses Think About Crypto originally appeared on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
