In the first week of September, Circle will be launching their USDC stablecoin natively on two blockchains, amplifying accessibility and bolstering security.
On August 30, Circle announced the launch of USDC on Optimism’s OP Mainnet. This native version of USDC will gradually replace the current bridged version from the Ethereum blockchain. The symbol for Optimism’s bridged USDC will be changed to USDC.e, while the new native version will be labeled simply as USDC.
Furthermore, Circle recently unveiled a native version of USDC on Coinbase’s Layer 2 Base network. Similar to the Optimism launch, the native version will gradually replace the existing bridged USDC. The bridged version will be renamed USDbC, while the new native version will retain the label USDC.
These native versions of USDC will facilitate institutional on- and off-ramps, ensuring seamless transactions and full backing for the stablecoin. Circle’s CEO, Jeremy Allaire, hinted through tweets that both launches would occur “next week,” indicating a timeframe prior to September 9.
Future launches are scheduled
Circle is thrilled to announce its upcoming “StableSeptember” event, where they will be launching USDC on five different blockchains this month. These targeted blockchain launches include Cosmos via Noble, NEAR, Polkadot, as well as the Base and Optimism launches mentioned earlier. But the excitement doesn’t stop there! Circle has plans to expand further by launching USDC on a sixth chain, Polygon PoS, in October. While USDC is already present on Polygon in a bridged form, this new launch will bring the native version to the network.
In addition to these groundbreaking blockchain launches, Circle is also expanding its global reach. A recent partnership has been established with the Latin American payment network, Mercado Pago, allowing Chilean users to enjoy the benefits of USDC support.