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How to buy USD Coin (USDC)
Learn how to buy USD Coin (USDC) in our step-by-step guide.
USD Coin (USDC) is in the top 1,000 cryptocurrencies by market cap, valued at $28,914,814,698.
USD Coin is a highly volatile asset capable of major price swings in a single day. Today USDC is trading for $1.00, which is slightly up from yesterday's trading price of $1.00. USD Coin's seen a decrease of 0% over the past year.
So before you buy USD Coin, make sure you understand these unique risks as well as its legal, regulatory and tax status here in the US.
If you're ready to get started, read on for step-by-step instructions and a list of platforms you can buy USD Coin.
How to buy USD Coin in 4 steps
The whole process can take as little as 15 minutes and all you'll need is a smartphone or computer, an internet connection, photo identification and a means of payment.
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Compare crypto exchangesThe easiest way to buy USD Coin is from a cryptocurrency exchange. Comparing in the table below lets you find one with the features you want such as low fees, ease of use or 24-hour customer support.
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Create an accountTo create an account on an exchange, you will need to verify your email address and identity. Have some photo ID and your phone ready.
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Make a depositOnce verified, you can deposit USD using the payment method that best suits you – cryptocurrency, card and bank payments are widely accepted.
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Buy USD CoinYou can now exchange your funds for USD Coin. On easier-to-use exchanges, this is as simple as entering the amount you want to purchase and clicking buy. If you like, you can now withdraw your USD Coin to your personal wallet.
Where to buy USD Coin
Find an exchange to buy, sell and trade USDC by comparing deposit methods, supported fiat currencies and fees. Select Go to site to sign up directly with the provider.
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How we keep this USD Coin guide up-to-date
- USDC price data is regularly updated through data feeds so you always have the latest information.
- USD Coin performance data is regularly updated using automated comparisons and AI systems built by our technical experts Zak Killermann and Helen Hu.
How do I find the best places to buy USD Coin?
Cryptocurrency exchanges offer similar services, but differ in a few key ways – mainly fees, the range of cryptos available and payment methods. You can use our table to compare the features of popular cryptocurrency exchanges available in to help you choose the one that's right for you.
Some other factors you may want to consider are customer support, user reviews, ease of use and whether or not the exchange is registered with a local regulator. This information can be found by clicking on the exchange name in the table which will take you to its review page.
What will I need to buy USD Coin?
To create an account on any cryptocurrency exchange you will need an email address. Some exchanges may also ask for a phone number and photo ID, so it's a good idea to have those ready.
An increasing number of cryptocurrency exchanges will ask to verify your identity before you can deposit funds and start trading USD Coin.
- This process is known as Know Your Customer (KYC) and usually requires photo ID and a webcam or smartphone. You may also need to prove your address by uploading a copy of a recent bank statement or utility bill.
- Some exchanges allow you to deposit and trade cryptocurrencies without passing KYC, but they will not allow you to transfer local currency from your bank account. So if you are planning on purchasing USDC with your local currency then you will need to pass KYC.
- Once you have verified your identity, it is a good idea to enable 2-factor authentication (2FA) before depositing any funds. This will increase the security of your account and help keep your funds safe.
What are the best ways to buy USD Coin?
Once you've created an account, you will need to deposit funds to buy USDC with. You can either deposit local currency from a bank account or credit card, or transfer cryptocurrency from another exchange or wallet. Here are some popular ways to to buy USDC:
- Bank account: Transfers from local bank accounts are usually free, but you will need to double-check this with the exchange you choose – this information can be found in our table by clicking on 'view details'.
- Credit or debit card: Linking a card to your account is another convenient way to top up your account, but be aware that it usually attracts an additional fee. An advantage, though, is that you can use a card to make instant purchases or set up a recurring purchase.
- Cryptocurrency: You can usually purchase USDC by trading it for another cryptocurrency like Bitcoin or a stablecoin. This varies between exchanges though, so you will need to search for USDC on the spot market to see what cryptocurrencies it can be traded for.
What is the easiest way to buy USD Coin?
The easiest way to buy USDC is by placing an 'instant buy' order to purchase it for a fixed price but not all crypto exchanges offer this feature.
Alternatively, you can open a trade on the spot market which allows you to set your own price – this is the most common way to purchase cryptocurrency. Using the instant buy feature is straightforward but typically more expensive than using the spot market.
Best USD Coin wallets to store your USDC
You can keep your USDC on the exchange you purchased it on, or move it to a personal wallet:
- Some people like to use their own wallets to guarantee total ownership over their assets, or to use them with other applications like DeFi services.
- Hardware wallets are typically considered to be the safest type of cryptocurrency wallet, as they use a physical device to enhance security in a number of ways. You can take a look at some of our top hardware wallet picks for self-custody of your USDC below.
Ledger Nano X Wallet
★★★★★ 4.6
Price (USD)
$149
Supported assets
5,500+
Trezor Model T Wallet
★★★★★ 4
Price (USD)
$186
Supported assets
1,317+
SafePal S1 Wallet
★★★★★ 4
Price (USD)
$49.99
Supported assets
30,000+
Disclaimer: This page is not financial advice or an endorsement of digital assets, providers or services. Digital assets are volatile and risky, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. Potential regulations or policies can affect their availability and services provided. Talk with a financial professional before making a decision. Finder or the author may own cryptocurrency discussed on this page.
Is USD Coin a good investment?
Although stablecoins by nature are intended to be stable and represent the underlying asset, these tokens are not without their associated risks. Here's what to consider before buying USDC:- Collateral. Belief in the stablecoin is highly correlated with the notion that one USDC equates to one US dollar. For every token, Circle claims it holds one US dollar as a reserve. This has previously been verified by auditors. However, if there is any doubt of this in the future, the integrity of the project will be called into question. This was seen with the competing USD stablecoin Tether.
- Correlation. As the token is directly correlated to the US dollar, any issues with the USD will also affect USDC. Issues might include the de-valuing of the US dollar and relative price differences with other world currencies.
- Volatility. Although pegged to the US dollar, high market volatility and increased daily volume can cause minor spikes above and below 1 USD.
- Centralized. The token is backed by a centralized entity and, therefore, arguably goes against the decentralized sentiment of cryptocurrencies. Centre, the controlling organisation, has blacklisted wallet addresses previously.
Today's USD Coin price versus ATH
Compare today's price of USD Coin ($1 USD) against its all-time high (ATH) price of $1.17 on May 08, 2019. The closer the bar is to 100%, the closer USDC is to reaching its ATH again.
Current price: $1
All time high: $1.17
How do I trade, convert or sell USD Coin?
You can convert or sell your USDC with the same exchange you bought it through:- Sign in to the exchange you have USDC on.
- If you store your USD Coin in a digital wallet, compare crypto exchanges to convert or sell it on.
- Choose Sell or Convert and place a sell order.
- Choose the amount of USDC you'd like to convert or sell.
- Confirm the sell price and fees and close your sale of USD Coin.
- Complete your transaction and move your USDC to a wallet for storage.
How to buy other cryptos
Disclaimer: Cryptocurrencies are speculative, complex and involve significant risks – they are highly volatile and sensitive to secondary activity. Performance is unpredictable and past performance is no guarantee of future performance. Consider your own circumstances, and obtain your own advice, before relying on this information. You should also verify the nature of any product or service (including its legal status and relevant regulatory requirements) and consult the relevant Regulators' websites before making any decision. Finder, or the author, may have holdings in the cryptocurrencies discussed.
Whether products shown are available to you is subject to individual provider sole approval and discretion in accordance with the eligibility criteria and T&Cs on the provider website.
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