USDC price holds near dollar as Q3 usage accelerates
Published on 11/08/2026 at 13:08 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSUSDC usage strengthens while peg holds
- USDC traded at 1.0010 USD at 13:03:51 Berlin time on November 8, 2026, according to Investing.com.
- Circle reported 13.9 trillion USD in USDC onchain transaction volume in the third quarter, up 49 percent year over year.
- Average USDC circulation rose 8 percent to 73.3 billion USD, while reserve income fell 8 percent to 658 million USD as the reserve return rate declined.
- The quarter included 182 million USD of ARC token presale revenue, an important one-time factor in Circle's reported results.
The USDC price remained close to its dollar target on November 8, 2026. Investing.com showed USDC at 1.0010 USD at 13:03:51 Berlin time, with a 24-hour volume of 9.21 billion USD and a market capitalization of 70.52 billion USD. The quote was read from the Investing.com USDC market page. As a fully reserved stablecoin, USDC is designed to maintain a one-to-one value with the US dollar rather than deliver the speculative price growth associated with unpegged cryptocurrencies.
Transaction activity accelerates
Circle's third-quarter results point to expanding use even though the token's role remains primarily transactional. In its November 4 results release, Circle reported average USDC circulation of 73.3 billion USD, up 8 percent year over year. Onchain USDC transaction volume reached 13.9 trillion USD, an increase of 49 percent from the prior-year quarter.
Circle also said its Circle Payments Network reached 41.3 billion USD in annualized payment volume during the quarter. The company announced an agreement to acquire Singapore-based Tazapay, subject to regulatory approvals, to expand cross-border payment connectivity. Tazapay has more than 25 billion USD in annualized payment volume and payment rails covering more than 100 markets, according to Circle.
Revenue quality remains relevant
For investors assessing the infrastructure behind the USDC price, the quarter also showed pressure in the reserve-based business. Circle reported reserve income of 658 million USD, down 8 percent year over year, primarily because the reserve return rate fell by 61 basis points. Higher average circulation partly offset that decline.
Total revenue and reserve income rose 17 percent to 865 million USD, but the figure included 182 million USD from the ARC token presale. Circle reported adjusted EBITDA of 317 million USD, up 85 percent, while explicitly attributing part of the increase to ARC revenue and lower distribution costs. That mix makes transaction growth and the conversion of payment-network activity into recurring revenue important factors to watch.
Stablecoin context for holders
Circle's USDC page says the token is redeemable one-to-one for US dollars and backed by highly liquid cash and cash-equivalent assets. It also reported 69.2 billion USDC in circulation as of November 5, 2026. The differing circulation figures reflect different reporting dates and sources; neither should be treated as a second price quote. For holders, the relevant distinction is between maintaining the dollar peg and the issuer's ability to expand sustainable payment utility.
Further coverage and the latest related reports are available on the USDC topic page.
