How to Send USDC

In today's interconnected world, sending money across borders should be as simple as sending a text message. Yet, traditional financial systems often make this process slow, expensive, and complicated. That’s where USDC comes in. It’s a digital dollar that leverages blockchain technology to make sending money fast, low-cost, and accessible to most anyone with an internet connection and a digital wallet.

Whether you're supporting family overseas, splitting a dinner bill with friends, or contributing to a global cause, USDC offers a seamless way to transfer value instantly and securely. In this article, we'll explore how USDC can simplify the process of sending money, highlight its key advantages, and provide clear instructions to help you start sending USDC today.

What is USDC?

USDC is a type of cryptocurrency known as a stablecoin, designed to maintain 1:1 value with the US dollar. Issued by Circle, USDC combines the stability of fiat currency with the efficiency and accessibility of cryptocurrency. USDC is regulated and fully backed by US dollars in the form of cash and highly liquid cash equivalents, and USDC’s reserves are independently audited with regular, transparent reporting. This all adds up to a secure and transparent way to hold and transfer digital dollars on the blockchain with USDC.

Interested in diving deeper? Check out our complete guide to understanding USDC.

Why send money with USDC?

Before diving into the how-to, it's important to understand what makes USDC an excellent choice for sending money. Sending USDC comes with several significant advantages over traditional money transfer methods:

Near-instant transfers

USDC transactions settle in seconds or minutes, mitigating the delays associated with traditional bank transfers, which can take days to process (especially for international payments) and are limited by working hours around nights, weekends, and holidays.

Global reach

With USDC, you can transfer digital dollars to anyone with an internet connection and a digital wallet, in over 180 countries. Direct USDC transfers avoid the complexities of navigating traditional banking procedures and foreign exchange hassles.

Low transaction costs

Traditional cross-border transfers can be expensive due to intermediary fees. USDC transfers, however, cost fractions of a penny, making it a cost-effective solution regardless of the transfer amount or destination.

24/7 accessibility

Blockchains don’t sleep. You can send USDC anytime, day or night, weekends or holidays. Your transactions aren't bound by bank operating hours.

Security and transparency

USDC transactions are secured by blockchain technology, providing a transparent and verifiable record of transfers, along with fraud-reducing cryptographic security.

Real-world use cases for sending USDC

USDC's features open up a myriad of possibilities for transferring value. Here are some common scenarios where sending USDC can make a significant difference:

Peer-to-peer payments and transactions

Whether you're paying your share of the rent, reimbursing a friend for concert tickets, or splitting a dinner bill, USDC makes peer-to-peer payments straightforward. You can send USDC directly to another person's wallet securely and efficiently, without the need for third-party intermediaries. That means no additional payment apps, and no waiting for funds to arrive. Transactions settle within seconds or minutes, and typically cost less than a penny.

See how Solana Pay is helping consumers use USDC for retail transactions.

Cross-border remittances

Sending money home to support family or friends in another country often involves multiple intermediaries, high fees, and long wait times. USDC enables you to transfer funds near-instantly and at a minimal cost, directly to the recipient's digital wallet — no bank account required. Cross-border USDC transfers can be sent to recipients in over 180 countries around the world.

See how BCRemit leverages USDC to help individuals send money home.

Humanitarian aid and donations

In times of crisis, immediate support is crucial. Sending aid through traditional banking channels can be slow and inefficient. USDC allows you to contribute directly to organizations or individuals in need, helping your support arrive exactly when it's needed most.

Explore charitable organizations that accept donations in cryptocurrencies like USDC.

How to send USDC: a step-by-step guide

Ready to start sending USDC? Here's how you can get started:

1. Set up a digital wallet

First, you'll need a digital wallet that supports cryptocurrency like USDC. Crypto wallets come in various forms — the key distinctions are software vs hardware wallets, and custodial vs non-custodial wallets. Software wallets are mainly accessed via a website, a browser extension, or a desktop/mobile app. Hardware wallets are physical devices (often resembling a USB drive) that store your assets offline. Software wallets can be custodial (i.e., offered by a centralized crypto exchange that helps custody your assets) or non-custodial, where you alone retain control over — and responsibility for securing — your assets. Hardware wallets are always non-custodial.

If you’re new to crypto, the easiest way to get started setting up a crypto wallet and acquiring USDC is via a centralized crypto exchange, or CEX. These platforms often offer fiat-to-crypto on-ramps for newcomers to purchase crypto with fiat currency like USD, and friendly user interfaces that simplify the experience of sending USDC from one wallet to another. When you purchase an asset like USDC using a CEX, it will be automatically stored in an exchange-based custodial wallet.

From there, you can choose to move your funds to a non-custodial wallet that gives you sole control over your funds (and sole responsibility for keeping them safe) — in which case you’ll need to take extra steps to set up your non-custodial wallet by following the platform-specific instructions provided by your chosen non-custodial wallet.

This guide will primarily focus on buying and sending USDC using a centralized crypto exchange.

Learn more about the different types of crypto wallets, and how to decide which is right for you.

2. Get USDC

Once you’ve chosen which type of crypto wallet you wish to use, the next step is to purchase USDC.

CEX platforms like Binance, Coinbase, Crypto.com, Kraken, OKX, Robinhood, and more allow you to buy USDC using fiat currency or other cryptocurrencies. If you’ve chosen a non-custodial wallet, you may notice that it supports fiat-to-crypto purchases via an integrated on-ramping service. If your non-custodial wallet does not support fiat purchases, you’ll need to acquire USDC from a CEX or trade an existing cryptocurrency that you hold in your wallet for USDC.

In general, the steps to acquire USDC on any given platform are:

1. Select a platform that operates in your region and sign up to create an account. This typically involves providing some personal information and completing any required identity verification processes.
2. Fund your centralized exchange account with fiat currency (like US dollars) via bank transfer, debit/credit card, or other supported payment methods. Once your account is funded, navigate to the “market” or “trading” section, select USDC, and execute a buy order for the amount you wish to purchase, either with US dollars or with any other cryptocurrencies you hold in your exchange account that have a trading pair with USDC.

3. Send USDC

With USDC in your wallet, you're ready to send digital dollars to a recipient. Open your wallet and select the option to send or transfer funds. Then obtain the recipient's wallet address, a unique alphanumeric code, sometimes represented as a QR code for convenience. Double check that you correctly enter the recipient’s address in your wallet’s interface, and ensure that the address corresponds to the blockchain network you’re using to send USDC.

For example, if you’re sending USDC on Ethereum, ensure the recipient’s address is an Ethereum address; if you’re sending USDC on Solana, ensure the recipient’s address is a Solana address, and so on. Sending USDC from one network (e.g., Ethereum) to a wallet address on a different network (e.g., Solana) may result in the permanent loss of funds.

Once you’ve double-checked the chosen network and recipient’s address, input the amount of USDC you wish to send. Review the transaction details, including any network fees that may apply. Once you're satisfied that all information is correct, confirm the transaction to initiate the transfer.

Note: many crypto wallets have similar, but different, interfaces. Some wallets allow you to preview the amount of crypto you’re sending in your local currency, for example, and some — but not all — support multiple networks. Refer to your chosen crypto wallet’s specific user instructions if needed.

4. Transaction completion

After confirming your transaction, it will be broadcasted to the blockchain network. USDC transactions are typically confirmed within seconds to minutes, depending on which network you’re using and how much network traffic is occurring at the time of your transaction. You can monitor the transaction’s progress through your wallet or by using a blockchain explorer (e.g., Etherscan for Ethereum transactions).

Once the transaction is confirmed, the recipient will receive the USDC in their wallet. It's a good practice to notify the recipient that the transfer is complete so they can check their wallet balance.

Tips and best practices for smooth USDC transfers

To ensure a hassle-free experience when sending USDC, keep the following tips in mind:

• Always verify that both you and the recipient are using wallets that support USDC on the same blockchain network to prevent any incompatibility issues.
• Be vigilant to avoid scams by interacting only with trusted exchanges and wallets.
• Be cautious of unsolicited requests or offers, and never share your crypto wallet details (e.g., account login information for CEXs and custodial wallets, or private keys and recovery phrases for non-custodial wallets) with anyone.
• Keep your wallet software updated, as regular updates often include essential security features and improvements that protect your assets. Use strong passwords, and enable additional security features like two-factor authentication.
• Consider transaction fees (also known as gas fees), which can vary depending on the blockchain network's activity level. Planning your transactions during off-peak times can help you avoid higher fees.

Embracing the future of money transfers

Sending money should be as quick, effortless, and global as sending an email — and with USDC, that's becoming a reality. By combining the stability of the US dollar with the efficiency of blockchain technology, USDC offers a powerful tool for fast, secure, and cost-effective transfers.

Whether you're new to digital currencies or looking to streamline your financial transactions, USDC provides a user-friendly way to embrace the future of money transfers. Explore the possibilities and experience firsthand how easy sending digital dollars can be. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can confidently start sending USDC and take advantage of the benefits that this stable digital currency offers.