Crypto

USDC Dominates AI Payments with 99.3% Market Share

Guavy AI Editorial Team Published August 29, 2026

Instruments

USDC

Circle's USDC stablecoin has become the go-to payment method for AI agents, processing over 99% of payments through the x402 protocol in Q2 2026.

The x402 protocol enables autonomous software agents to pay for digital services without human approval, and USDC's dollar denomination makes it suitable for these transactions due to its consistent unit of account.

Circle's CEO Jeremy Allaire stated that AI agents require reliable settlement assets for fast and inexpensive transactions, which is why USDC has become the preferred choice.

In addition to AI payments, Circle reported a 19% annual growth in USDC circulation, reaching $73.3 billion by the end of Q2 2026, with quarterly transaction volume increasing 151% year-over-year to $14.8 trillion.

USDC Dominates AI Payments with 99.3% Market Share

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