USD Coin (USDC) is a stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar on a 1:1 basis, backed by a reserve of cash and short-term U.S. Treasury bonds. Launched in September 2018 by the Centre consortium, USDC is issued by regulated financial institutions. It aims to be "digital money for the digital age," facilitating cashless transactions. USDC serves various use cases, including a safe haven for crypto traders, enabling businesses to accept digital payments, and impacting sectors like decentralized finance and gaming. The goal is widespread acceptance across wallets, exchanges, and other platforms.