USDC jumps $7B
Stablecoins surged roughly $7 billion over recent days — USDC alone is reported up about 10% to ~$52 billion outstanding, reasserting stablecoins’ dominance in DeFi corridors. Traders say the inflow is already being used to settle DeFi flows and emerging AI payments rails. (x.com)
Artemis analytics and multiple market trackers show USDC’s circulating supply recently climbed to roughly $81.1 billion, reaching a fresh all‑time high in mid‑March 2026. (cryptorank.io) Artemis data also records about $4.5 billion of net USDC supply growth year‑to‑date through March, while short‑term minting spiked across several chains in the first weeks of March. (analyticsinsight.net) On Solana alone, market reports say Circle added roughly $2–2.5 billion of USDC in a recent week that helped push the token’s multi‑chain total higher. (themarketperiodical.com) Transaction activity tracked by Artemis shows USDC 30‑day volume and on‑chain transactions expanding sharply (Artemis reports ~160% transaction growth over 30 days), a pattern traders link to increased use for short‑term DeFi settlement and liquidity routing. (stablecoins.artemisanalytics.com) Major payments and infrastructure players are moving to support machine‑level payments in USDC: Stripe’s x402 preview and Alchemy’s agent payment product both route AI agent micro‑payments in USDC on Base, though The Block notes Coinbase’s x402 processed under $25 million over 30 days and Stripe handled about $5,000 in its initial week. (theblock.co) Circle’s product and listing activity — including a native USDC launch on Injective and a recent rebound in Circle (CRCL) stock tied to higher USDC issuance — have accompanied the supply surge and institutional interest. (blockonomi.com)
