Stablecoin Landscape Shifts as USDC Closes Gap with USDT

According to data from NOWPayments, USDT still leads stablecoin volume, but USDC is gaining momentum. In H1 2026, USDC transaction count increased by 209.02% year over year, and its transaction volume rose by 101.63%. In contrast, USDT's transaction activity declined over the same period.

The divergence between scale and momentum highlights the growing importance of stablecoins in business operations. Stablecoins are no longer just used for accepting crypto payments; they're becoming an essential part of a company's infrastructure for moving money throughout their daily operations.

For businesses operating globally, USDT offers the scale and liquidity needed to process large transactions quickly. However, as USDC gains traction in Europe, it becomes a more attractive option for companies navigating regulated infrastructure. This is particularly evident with the European Union's MiCA regulation, which provides clarity on stablecoin usage.