How to Buy USD Coin (USDC)

Looking to grow your crypto portfolio by adding USDC? You can buy USD Coin on Coinbase.

USD Coin (USDC) is a stablecoin backed by reserves of cash and short-term U.S. Treasury bonds, ensuring its value corresponds to 1 U.S. dollar. This collateralization is intended to ensure that for every USDC in circulation, there is a corresponding U.S. dollar or equivalent value held in reserve, providing a level of safety and transparency for users. Historically, access to USDC has been limited on major crypto exchanges, but its growing acceptance has improved liquidity and ease of transactions, making it increasingly accessible to users looking to engage more seamlessly in the decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem. Learn how to buy USD Coin (USDC) now to begin your crypto trading journey.

How to Buy USD Coin (USDC)

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to buy USDC safely and easily.

1. Open an Online Account

To purchase USD Coin, you must first open an account with a cryptocurrency exchange or broker that supports USDC trading. Visit the platform's website or download the mobile app. Search for the "Sign Up" or "Register" button and click it. You will need to enter your email address and create a password. After setting up your account, verify your identity. This process usually requires submitting personal information and documents, including a government-issued ID and proof of address, in compliance with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Know Your Consumer (KYC) regulations.

2. Fund Your Account

You can fund your account in various ways depending on the platform. Credit card, bank transfer or existing cryptocurrency wallets are commonly accepted. Many trading platforms allow users to link their bank accounts for direct deposits or wire transfers. Alternatively, users can use credit card or debit card, though this may result in higher fees. Follow the instructions for the payment method you choose. Enter the amount and confirm any transaction fees associated with it.

To make cryptocurrency deposits, please generate a wallet address from your exchange. Copy this address and transfer your funds from your personal crypto wallet. It is essential to verify both the address and the amount prior to confirming the transaction to ensure the security of your funds.

3. Purchase USD Coin

Once you've successfully verified and funded your account, you can start buying crypto including USDC. Because USDC is almost always equal to $1, you don’t have to time the market to buy your USD Coins. If you’re lucky, you may be able to snag your USDC at a discount, but don’t expect the price to drop below $0.99.

If you already own crypto, you can buy USDC with Ether tokens on a decentralized exchange (DEX). You’ll need a compatible Ethereum wallet — MetaMask is the best option for Uniswap because it has an easy-to-use Google Chrome extension. After sending your Ether tokens to MetaMask, you can swap them for USDC on Uniswap.org.

What Is USD Coin?

There are several uses for USD Coin. Visa recently announced its plans to settle transactions in USDC on Ethereum’s blockchain, which is huge news for Ethereum’s network becoming more practical.

Today the most common use case for USDC is to hedge against volatility in the crypto market without leaving the crypto ecosystem. Stablecoins can also interact with decentralized finance (DeFi) programs and earn interest. Since USDC uses Ethereum’s network, the stablecoin can be used on decentralized exchanges like Uniswap, yearn.finance and SushiSwap – something fiat cannot do.

These decentralized applications (dApps) allow investors to earn interest, take out loans and even settle insurance claims directly on the blockchain. Being able to do so with a cryptocurrency pegged to the dollar eliminates the risk associated with volatile cryptocurrencies, allowing risk-tolerant investors to stake USDC for interest rates north of 10%.

Brief History of USD Coin

USDC was created by Centre Consortium, a joint venture between Coinbase and Circle – aimed at increasing mainstream adoption of fiat stablecoins. USDC operates by minting new coins when a user buys them with the USD from an exchange like Coinbase. Centre Consortium then puts this cash into its reserve, ensuring that $1 of USDC can be exchanged for $1 at any time.

Created in 2018, USDC’s market capitalization has risen from around $200 million to more than $34 billion as of September 2024. While the price of USDC doesn’t fluctuate more than a percentage point in either direction, the number of USDC has increased significantly.

USD Coin is U.S-based and completely audited by a third party. Unlike Tether (USDT), there’s no question that USDC has each and every token backed by $1 of collateral in its reserves. It should be noted that this collateral does not have to be in the form of US Dollars, certain other types of debt are deemed valid by regulators. With increased skepticism about Tether’s USDT backing, USDC may be a more secure alternative. 

Where to Buy USD Coin (USDC)

USDC is available for purchase on well-known trading platforms including Coinbase, Binance, Kraken, Robinhood, Crypto.com and Gemini, among others.

How to Store USDC Safely

Now that you know how to buy USDC you need to learn how to store it safely. You should avoid storing your cryptocurrency, including USDC, on centralized exchanges due to the risk of hacking. Instead, it's safer to use dedicated cryptocurrency wallets, which provide public and private keys to secure your funds. Software wallets operate through a program, while hardware wallets are physical devices that keep your crypto offline. Here are a few of the best crypto wallets on the market.

• Hardware Wallet: Ledger Nano S

Ledger is a trusted hardware wallet brand among many cryptocurrency investors. The company has been selling cryptocurrency wallets since 2014, and their wallets have never been hacked. The Ledger Nano S is a multicurrency wallet, so you can store all your cryptocurrencies in one place.

• Software Wallet: Coinbase Wallet

Coinbase has a dedicated wallet application that’s great for storing your cryptocurrency. You can store Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDC and several other assets on the wallet’s mobile app. Coinbase Wallet is free to download, so the only cost to you will be transaction fees to send your crypto to your wallet on the blockchain.

Trade, Sell or Convert Your USDC

Trading and converting your USDC is much easier than onboarding actual U.S dollars into the cryptocurrency market. Since USDC operates on Ethereum, you can swap between USDC and any Ethereum-based token on decentralized exchanges like Uniswap or Sushiswap. If you use a DEX, beware of high gas fees –– due to high demand for network space.

You also can use USDC on exchanges to easily convert to other cryptocurrencies without needing to access funds from your bank account. This is a better option for most retail investors, as there are much lower fees, however, USDT is a much more common in crypto/stablecoin trading pairs.

Current Crypto Prices

To get an idea of where the cryptocurrency market is headed, watch the price movements of major cryptos like Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Is USDC Better than USD?

For most cryptocurrency traders, it makes sense to use USDC instead of USD. It’s much easier to transfer to decentralized finance protocols, as it’s tokenized on the same blockchain as Ethereum. 

There are plenty of opportunities to earn interest with USDC that don’t exist in traditional markets, as blockchain innovations cut out the banks that capitalize on your assets. So yes, USDC is better than USD in almost every way.

Is It Worth It to Buy USD Coin?

Investing in USD Coin (USDC) can be worth it for those seeking to engage in the cryptocurrency ecosystem while maintaining a stable value linked to the US dollar. As a stablecoin, USDC aims to provide the benefits of cryptocurrency transactions—such as fast transfers and lower fees—without the high volatility associated with other cryptocurrencies. This stability makes it attractive for individuals looking to protect their capital amidst market fluctuations.  However, potential investors should conduct thorough research and consider the risks associated with digital currencies, including regulatory changes and technological challenges, before making a decision.

Frequently Asked Questions