Circle expands support for Solana as it becomes top network for cross-border payments

Circle is expanding its Web3 Services and Tools suite to Solana to enhance USDC’s accessibility for developers and enterprises, ensuring easy integration into various applications.

The move comes after an AllianceBernstein research report revealed that Solana has become the most popular network for stablecoin transfers, especially for cross-border payments.

Circle aims to improve USDC’s accessibility for developers and enterprises, ensuring easy integration into various applications. The initiative will allow businesses to use APIs to integrate secure wallets, manage on-chain transactions or smart contracts, and streamline user onboarding and transaction flows.

Circle’s official announcement expressed excitement about partnering with Solana’s dynamic developer community and businesses to develop and launch innovative applications.

Stablecoin dominance

This development occurs against a backdrop of significant growth in the stablecoin market, with USDC’s supply experiencing a nearly 10% increase in the last month.

Amid these developments, a report from AllianceBernstein has positioned Solana ahead of Ethereum in terms of stablecoin payment volume, highlighting its emergence as the preferred medium for stablecoin transactions.

The report, penned by analysts Gautam Chhugani and Mahika Sapra, emphasizes the resurgence of stablecoin usage in the current bull market, with Solana leading in cross-border payments using stablecoins.

Remarkably, Solana has captured a dominant 43% market share in the value of stablecoins transferred, significantly outpacing Ethereum, as per Artemis’ data, which recorded Solana’s stablecoin transfer volume at $63.6 billion against Ethereum’s $26.6 billion.

On-chain data shows that Solana’s market share in stablecoin transfers amounted to $1.4 trillion in March, more than 2x Ethereum’s $635 billion.

However, Ethereum still holds a higher market cap of stablecoins on its blockchain, but much of its capital remains unused. Bernstein analysts noted that although Solana has overtaken Ethereum in value transferred, it faces significant scalability challenges, especially for consumer payments.

Circle’s decision to extend Web3 service support to the Solana blockchain showcases confidence in Solana’s ability to overcome its current challenges and reflects a broader commitment to leveraging stablecoins for a more open and inclusive financial system.