USDC leads the $33 trillion stablecoin market despite USDT's larger size

2026-01-11 01:20:13

Source: Yellow Original Title: Why USDC Suddenly Dominates the $33 Trillion Stablecoin Market Despite USDT’s Larger Size

Original Link: https://yellow.com/es/news/por-qu-usdc-suddenly-dominates-the-33-trillion-stablecoin-market-despite-usdt-s-larger-size

Stablecoin Transaction Volume Surges

Stablecoin transaction volumes surged 72% to $33 trillion in 2025, driven by clearer regulatory frameworks and expanding institutional adoption.

USDC from Circle processed $18.3 trillion in transactions, while USDT from Tether handled $13.3 trillion, according to market reports.

The combined activity represents the fastest annual growth since stablecoins emerged as payment infrastructure.

What Happened

Federal legislation approval for stablecoins in July created frameworks that encouraged institutional participation.

Transaction volumes accelerated during the fourth quarter, reaching $11 trillion compared to $8.8 trillion in the third quarter.

Major retailers, including Amazon and Walmart, explored stablecoin initiatives following legislation approval.

USDC’s dominance in transactions stems from intense usage in DeFi, where tokens circulate frequently.

USDT maintains a market capitalization advantage of $187 billion despite lower transaction flow.

The divergence reflects different use cases: USDC drives DeFi, while USDT is mainly used for payments.

Analysts project flows could reach $56 trillion by 2030.

Why It Matters

Regulatory clarity removed barriers that previously limited institutional adoption of stablecoins.

The shift toward widespread use indicates stablecoins are transitioning from crypto tools to broader financial infrastructure.

The acceleration in Q4 suggests momentum is increasing as adoption expands.

Transaction volume growth outpacing market capitalization growth indicates real expansion in usage, not just speculation.

USDC’s leadership in transactions, despite its smaller size, demonstrates how stablecoins serve different market segments.

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