To foster widespread adoption of digital currencies, the Celo Foundation has revealed that Circle, a prominent player in the crypto space, will launch its USDC stablecoin natively on the Celo blockchain. This partnership aims to fortify Celo’s position as a carbon-negative, mobile-first, and EVM-compatible blockchain tailored for real-world applications.
USDC, a regulated digital dollar recognized for its stability and accessibility worldwide, will further amplify its utility by being minted directly on the Celo blockchain. This integration is expected to facilitate seamless conversions of USDC into fiat currencies, aligning with Circle’s mission to enhance global economic prosperity through frictionless value exchange.
Aligning Circle’s Prosperity Goals with Celo’s Vision
According to the blog post, the collaboration between Circle and Celo reflects a shared vision to leverage blockchain technology for a more inclusive, open, and equitable financial future. Celo’s thriving ecosystem, boasting the industry’s fastest-growing mobile decentralized applications and a global user base exceeding 1,000 projects across 150 countries, adds significant weight to the upcoming launch of USDC.
With a staggering market cap of $135.16 billion, stablecoins have emerged as dominant real-world assets, providing a gateway for broader financial access and inclusion. Celo already hosts diverse stablecoin use cases, including remittances, savings, lending, aid disbursement, and peer-to-peer transactions.
Isha Varshney, Head of Strategy and Innovation at the Celo Foundation, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating:
We want to be the best ecosystem for stablecoins, which has proven to be among the industry’s prevailing use cases, as institutional investors come into Web3.
The integration of USDC into the Celo network is expected to unlock new possibilities for businesses and developers worldwide. This collaboration enables them to offer users fast, secure payments and a stable store of value through digital dollars. The availability of institutional on-/off-ramps like Circle Mint further enhances on-chain activity, allowing smooth conversions between USDC and local currencies.
As part of Celo’s commitment to user convenience, cLabs plans to propose a mechanism that enables users to pay network gas fees using USDC, enhancing the overall payment experience within the ecosystem.
Shamus Noonan, Senior Manager of Business Development at Circle, emphasized the collaboration’s crucial role in expanding USDC access and leveraging Celo’s mobile-first user base, especially in regions with growing blockchain adoption.
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