Introducing Native USDC on Starknet

Starknet DeFi has entered a new era with the availability of native USDC, issued through regulated* affiliates of Circle, and seamless crosschain transfers through the Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol (CCTP). The Circle integration provides Starknet access to the world’s largest regulated* stablecoin and offers seamless cross-chain transfer infrastructure, institutional-grade settlement, smoother entry into Starknet DeFi, and low-cost global payments. It’s an important landmark for the security and composability of Starknet’s stablecoin infrastructure.

User Benefits

For users, native USDC on Starknet brings a safer, simpler, and faster experience.

  • Interoperability: Bridging USDC to and from Starknet is seamless and enhances interoperability with 18 other blockchains with 1:1 capital efficiency. CCTP removes the need for wrapped token versions, bolstering security and streamlining stablecoin transfers.
  • Reduced Friction and Fragmentation: Capital moves fluidly and without the friction or risk that comes with traditional bridging models, allowing more liquidity to flow to Starknet. And native USDC aligns liquidity across AMMs, lending platforms, and vaults, reducing fragmentation.

Interoperability and Liquidity flow on Starknet

  • Security: Since Circle issues and redeems native USDC directly, users benefit from institutional-grade security and transparency.
  • Improved App Building: For devs and builders, native USDC means seamless cross-chain onboarding, swaps, purchases, treasury rebalancing, and more.
  • Enhanced Bitcoin DeFi: With the availability of trusted native USDC, designed to maintain a stable value, BTCFi protocols can pair Bitcoin assets with deep, onchain dollar liquidity, creating more efficient markets and improving price predictability. Native USDC also directly strengthens Starknet’s BTCFi flywheel, accelerating Starknet’s growth as the leading ecosystem for Bitcoin-based DeFi.

Starknet BTCFi Flywheel Cycle

How to Migrate

Starknet still supports and will continue to support bridged USDC (USDC.e), which comes from Ethereum via Starknet’s native StarkGate bridge. Existing bridges will be uninterrupted and bridged USDC will remain clearly labeled as “USDC.e” in block explorers, app interfaces, dashboards, and documentation.

On Starknet

Starknet users who wish to migrate to native USDC have two options:

  • Migration portal: This web portal – accessed via StarkGate – allows users to connect wallets and migrate USDC.e to native USDC. This portal will use a 1:1 conversion contract that allows retail users to migrate their USDC.e to USDC seamlessly and gas-free, with a single transaction.

Starknet USDC Migration Flowchart

  • UI for native USDC Bridging: Users are also able to transfer native USDC in and out of Starknet via the StarkGate website. When users bridge USDC from Ethereum, they can choose whether they bridge to USDC.e or native USDC.

In addition, StarkWare and The Starknet Foundation are migrating USDC.e liquidity in various pools, including Ekubo and Vesu, to seed new native USDC pools.

Starknet Apps

The Starknet team has worked with ecosystem apps to smoothly ensure the migration of liquidity from bridged USDC to native USDC. Users can visit those apps for more information about their specific migration plans:

  • AVNU – AVNU will integrate both the migration contract and the liquidity pools for native USDC. Depending on which option offers the best rate at execution, users will be automatically routed there.
  • Braavos – The Braavos wallet will automatically detect ETH-USDC balances and will prompt those users to migrate.
  • Ready – Ready users will be able to migrate to native USDC in the app. USDCe will be phased out over time.
  • Xverse – Xverse will alert USDC.e holders from the wallet main dashboard and the token dashboard and will then redirect users to a migration website.
  • Keplr – Kepler will show an in-app pop-up to direct users to Starknet’s migration portal.
  • Extended – There will be no impact for users.
  • Vesu – Vesu has a 1-click migration feature that allows users with any position to migrate their entire position with 1 click.
  • Ekubo – There will be a USDC.e/USDC pool which will serve as a liquidity source during this transitional phase.

    Migrate your USDC.e today and take advantage of all that native USDC on Starknet has to offer, from smoother user flows to deeper liquidity and increased interoperability.

    *USDC is issued by Circle’s regulated affiliates. A list of Circle’s regulatory authorizations can be found here.