Short answer: a stablecoin is a crypto token engineered to stay at a fixed value - usually 1 coin = 1 US dollar. USDC and USDT are the big two. For paying, the appeal is simple: the amount doesn’t move while you check out. General information, not financial advice.
Bitcoin and ETH are volatile - great for some purposes, awkward when a price needs to hold still for two minutes. Stablecoins were built to solve exactly that: the speed and reach of crypto, with the steadiness of the dollar.
The common model is reserve-backed: a company issues tokens and holds reserves (cash and short-term instruments) so each token can be redeemed for a dollar. That backing is what keeps the market price hugging $1. Different issuers publish different levels of reserve detail - worth knowing, though for a one-off payment it rarely matters.
Both aim for the same 1:1 dollar peg. Crucially, each exists on several networks - USDC and USDT on Ethereum, on Solana, and more. The token is “the same dollar,” but the network it travels on differs.
Match the network exactly. “USDC” on Ethereum and “USDC” on Solana are not interchangeable in transit. Send on the network the invoice specifies, or funds can be stuck. When in doubt, Solana-network stablecoins are usually the fastest and cheapest.
Ready to use one? Follow How to pay with crypto and pick a stablecoin at checkout.
What is a stablecoin?
A token designed to hold a steady value, usually 1:1 with the US dollar, backed by reserves. USDC/USDT are the common ones.
Why pay with a stablecoin?
The amount doesn’t move while you check out - no volatility between invoice and confirmation.
USDC vs USDT?
Both target a $1 peg, different issuers/disclosures, both on multiple networks. Match the invoice network.
External links are for reference only; New-U is not affiliated with these projects and links carry no endorsement or financial advice.
USDC and USDT are accepted at checkout alongside BTC, ETH and SOL. Research use only - not for human consumption.
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