Cardano Launches USDCx to Compete with Ethereum and Solana in Stablecoin Liquidity

TheNewsCryptoPublicado a 2026-02-16Actualizado a 2026-02-16

Resumen

Cardano is set to launch USDCx, a dollar-pegged stablecoin backed 1:1 by Circle’s USDC, by the end of February. The initiative, confirmed by Anastasia Labs CEO Philip DiSaro, aims to address Cardano's significant stablecoin liquidity shortage, which currently stands below $40 million—far less than competitors like Ethereum and Solana. USDCx will be usable across DeFi applications on Cardano and interoperable via Circle’s reserve system, though direct dollar redemption remains limited to institutional partners. The launch coincides with Cardano's integration with LayerZero, enabling cross-chain communication with over 50 blockchains. Despite recent declines in ADA's value, the success of USDCx could boost DeFi activity and attract more developers and traders to the ecosystem.

Cardano is preparing to launch its USDCx, a dollar-pegged stablecoin linked to Circle’s USDC, at the end of February. This move aims to solve the stablecoin liquidity shortage. Philip DiSaro, CEO of Anastasia Labs, a smart contract development firm building within the Cardano ecosystem, confirmed the update on February 15.

What this Launch means for Cardano

This launch mainly focuses on stablecoin liquidity. Stablecoins are used for trading, payments, lending, and borrowing. Data from the industry trackers shows that Cardano hosts less than $40 million in stablecoins, which is much less compared to other chains like Ethereum or Solana. Cardano believes that by bringing USDCx, it could increase the number of traders and developers building serious financial products on the Cardano ecosystem.

According to DiSaro, USDCx is backed by 1:1 real USDC and usable across DeFi apps with support through Circle’s reserve system. For users, USDCx acts similarly to USDC, with one technical difference: the direct redemption for dollars from Circle is available only to Circle’s institutional partners.

This launch comes while Cardano is integrating with LayerZero, which allows apps on Cardano to communicate with more than 50 blockchains. Despite these upgrades, Cardano’s native token, ADA, has fallen over 25% in the last month. So traders are waiting for the real usage growth instead of just the infrastructure announcement.

If USDCx brings stablecoin liquidity, then it may increase the DeFi activity, and the trading volume could grow with more builders. For Cardano, February will be the most important month to show that the improved access to dollar liquidity can finally help its DeFi.

Highlighted Crypto News:

Can Bittensor Sustain Its 20% Rally After Rebounding From $160?

Preguntas relacionadas

QWhat is USDCx and how is it related to Circle's USDC?

AUSDCx is a dollar-pegged stablecoin launched on Cardano that is directly linked to Circle's USDC. It is backed 1:1 by real USDC reserves and can be used across DeFi applications, though direct dollar redemption from Circle is only available to their institutional partners.

QWhat problem does Cardano aim to solve by launching USDCx?

ACardano aims to solve the stablecoin liquidity shortage on its network. Currently, Cardano hosts less than $40 million in stablecoins, which is significantly less than competitors like Ethereum and Solana.

QWho confirmed the launch of USDCx on the Cardano network and when?

APhilip DiSaro, CEO of Anastasia Labs, a smart contract development firm building within the Cardano ecosystem, confirmed the update on February 15.

QWhat major interoperability development is Cardano undergoing alongside the USDCx launch?

ACardano is integrating with LayerZero, which will allow applications on its network to communicate with more than 50 other blockchains.

QHow has Cardano's native token, ADA, performed recently despite these developments?

ADespite these upgrades and announcements, Cardano's native token, ADA, has fallen over 25% in the last month, with traders waiting to see real usage growth rather than just infrastructure announcements.

Lecturas Relacionadas

The Value Distribution of Stablecoins

**Summary: The Value Distribution of Stablecoins** The article argues that stablecoins are evolving from mere trading tools into broader channels for dollar access. It divides the stablecoin ecosystem into four layers to analyze how value is distributed: 1. **Issuance Layer:** Mints stablecoins, holds reserve assets, and captures the spread between reserve yield and user costs (e.g., Tether, Circle). This layer currently earns the largest profit margin. 2. **Infrastructure Layer:** Connects stablecoins to the traditional financial system, handling fiat on/off-ramps, banking integration, compliance (KYC/AML), and asset management (e.g., Bridge, BVNK). This is the "unglamorous" but critical work, building the essential bridges between crypto and real-world finance. 3. **Acquiring/Distribution Layer:** Integrates stablecoins into merchant systems, manages payment flows, and provides enterprise financial software (e.g., Stripe, Coinbase). They act as the access point for businesses. 4. **Application Layer:** The end-users and businesses that ultimately use stablecoins for payments, settlements, or as a store of value. They benefit from convenience but have little pricing power. The core thesis is that while the issuance layer currently dominates profits, the often-overlooked **infrastructure layer holds significant long-term potential**. The real challenge and barrier to mass adoption is not the on-chain transfer of stablecoins (which is simple), but the complex "last mile" integration into existing business workflows, banking systems, and regulatory frameworks across different countries. Companies in this layer are currently in a "land grab" phase, investing heavily to build networks, secure bank partnerships, and establish compliance pathways. While their position is currently pressured by the profitable issuers above and distribution platforms below, the article suggests that if stablecoins become a default financial rail for businesses, the infrastructure providers who have done the hard work of integration will ultimately gain strong pricing power and become entrenched, essential players.

marsbitHace 13 min(s)

The Value Distribution of Stablecoins

The Value Distribution of Stablecoins The article argues that stablecoins are evolving from a mere trading tool into a broad "dollar channel." It analyzes the industry's value chain through four layers: 1. **Issuance Layer (e.g., Tether, Circle):** The top layer that mints stablecoins, holds reserve assets, and captures the thickest interest rate spread. 2. **Infrastructure Layer (e.g., Bridge, BVNK):** Connects stablecoins to the traditional financial system, handling critical but complex "dirty work" like fiat on/off-ramps, banking integration, compliance (KYC/AML), and cross-border settlement. 3. **Acquiring/Distribution Layer (e.g., Stripe, Coinbase):** Embeds stablecoins into merchant systems, manages payment flows, and integrates with enterprise software. 4. **Application Layer:** End-users and businesses that ultimately use stablecoins for payments, settlement, or storing value. The author posits that while the issuance layer currently captures the most profit, the most overlooked and potentially critical layer is infrastructure. The core challenge for stablecoin adoption isn't the on-chain transfer (which is simple), but bridging the gap between blockchain and the real-world financial system. This involves solving practical problems for businesses: fiat conversion, reconciliation, tax handling, and user onboarding. Infrastructure companies are currently in a difficult "land-grab" phase—building networks, securing banking relationships, and achieving compliance country-by-country. They face pressure from both the profitable issuance layer above and distribution platforms below. However, the author suggests this layer is building a crucial moat. Once stablecoins become a default business rail, the infrastructure players who have done the hard work of integration may gain significant, durable value and pricing power.

链捕手Hace 17 min(s)

Why Is Nvidia Borrowing $20 Billion When It's Not Short of Cash?

Nvidia's recent announcement to issue at least $20 billion in senior notes, despite holding a strong cash position with over $48.6 billion in free cash flow last quarter, is not a sign of financial need. Instead, it represents a strategic move to leverage its high credit rating (recently upgraded to AA by S&P) to secure low-cost, long-term debt. This capital will support long-term AI infrastructure investments, data centers, R&D, supply chain prepayments, and strategic investments, while allowing the company to continue aggressive shareholder returns through stock buybacks and dividends. The decision reflects a mature capital management strategy: using debt to finance long-term growth assets is more efficient and less dilutive to shareholders than equity financing. It signals that Nvidia, like other tech giants (Alphabet, Meta, Amazon), is entering a new phase of heavy AI capital expenditure, shifting from a pure growth story to a story about capital allocation, credit strength, and long-term ecosystem positioning. The key question for investors is whether Nvidia can maintain its high cash flow generation and ensure that returns from these AI investments justify the cost of capital over the long term. The bond issuance amplifies its expansion capabilities but also ties its valuation more closely to the broader AI investment cycle's sustainability and profitability.

marsbitHace 52 min(s)

Why Is Nvidia Borrowing $20 Billion When It's Not Short of Cash?

marsbitHace 52 min(s)

Liberland Fires Tech Secretary After Alleged Blockchain And Website Takeover Attempt

Liberland's congress has voted to remove Technology Secretary Dorian Stern Vukotić, following a resolution accusing him of attempting to hijack the Liberland.org domain, removing administrative multisig protections, blocking the president from voting, and launching unauthorized tokens. The incident serves as a case study in blockchain governance, highlighting risks that go beyond smart contracts to include control over domains, admin keys, and off-chain authority. For the crypto industry, it underscores the need to scrutinize decentralization claims against operational realities, where a small group can still compromise governance. The story reflects a broader market shift where infrastructure security and governance are becoming as critical as price action. Editorial framing should treat the development as a verified information signal about governance risks, avoiding overstatement of Liberland's legal status and leaving room for follow-up evidence.

bitcoinistHace 1 hora(s)

Liberland Fires Tech Secretary After Alleged Blockchain And Website Takeover Attempt

bitcoinistHace 1 hora(s)

How to Do Research Well: Deliberately Practice the Real Skills That Matter

No one truly teaches you how to do research. You're often given a desk, a pre-selected problem, and vague instructions to "create something new." Consequently, many people reverse-engineer the job based on visible outputs—papers, posts, announcements—learning only how to *appear* like a researcher rather than how to *become* one. True research capability is built from stacking small, trainable skills, nearly all of which can be developed through deliberate practice. **Pick Your Own Problem:** Most researchers absorb problems from advisors or trends, lacking the underlying reasoning. Choosing a problem you genuinely care about, as John Schulman advises, leads to original work. Develop "taste" like a muscle: predict experiment outcomes, guess paper results from methods, and track which findings remain important over time. **Upgrade Your Inputs:** Relying on shared reading lists (arXiv hot lists, filtered group chats) leads to unoriginal conclusions. Undervalued old literature often holds crucial insights (e.g., MoE, LSTM, backpropagation). Richard Sutton's "The Bitter Lesson" or Claude Shannon's 1952 talk on creative thinking are more predictive than lengthy modern surveys. Breadth matters as much as depth: draw from neuroscience, mechanism design, hardware knowledge, and honest statistics. Read papers directly, especially appendices and limitations sections. **Write Everything Down:** As Paul Graham noted, writing exposes flaws in seemingly mature ideas. Writing is the cheapest defense against self-deception. Following Feynman's principle, Darwin programmatically wrote down facts contradicting his theory to combat memory bias. Maintain a detailed log of hypotheses, setups, predictions, results, and updated understandings. Reviewing past logs fosters essential humility.

marsbitHace 2 hora(s)

How to Do Research Well: Deliberately Practice the Real Skills That Matter

marsbitHace 2 hora(s)

Trading

Spot

Futuros

Artículos destacados

Cómo comprar ADA

¡Bienvenido a HTX.com! Hemos hecho que comprar Cardano (ADA) sea simple y conveniente. Sigue nuestra guía paso a paso para iniciar tu viaje de criptos.Paso 1: crea tu cuenta HTXUtiliza tu correo electrónico o número de teléfono para registrarte y obtener una cuenta gratuita en HTX. Experimenta un proceso de registro sin complicaciones y desbloquea todas las funciones.Obtener mi cuentaPaso 2: ve a Comprar cripto y elige tu método de pagoTarjeta de crédito/débito: usa tu Visa o Mastercard para comprar Cardano (ADA) al instante.Saldo: utiliza fondos del saldo de tu cuenta HTX para tradear sin problemas.Terceros: hemos agregado métodos de pago populares como Google Pay y Apple Pay para mejorar la comodidad.P2P: tradear directamente con otros usuarios en HTX.Over-the-Counter (OTC): ofrecemos servicios personalizados y tipos de cambio competitivos para los traders.Paso 3: guarda tu Cardano (ADA)Después de comprar tu Cardano (ADA), guárdalo en tu cuenta HTX. Alternativamente, puedes enviarlo a otro lugar mediante transferencia blockchain o utilizarlo para tradear otras criptomonedas.Paso 4: tradear Cardano (ADA)Tradear fácilmente con Cardano (ADA) en HTX's mercado spot. Simplemente accede a tu cuenta, selecciona tu par de trading, ejecuta tus trades y monitorea en tiempo real. Ofrecemos una experiencia fácil de usar tanto para principiantes como para traders experimentados.

1.5k Vistas totalesPublicado en 2024.12.10Actualizado en 2026.06.02

Discusiones

Bienvenido a la comunidad de HTX. Aquí puedes mantenerte informado sobre los últimos desarrollos de la plataforma y acceder a análisis profesionales del mercado. A continuación se presentan las opiniones de los usuarios sobre el precio de ADA (ADA).