Coinbase has entered a new strategic partnership with crypto payments infrastructure provider Mercuryo. The two entities joined efforts to make it cheaper for users to purchase USD Coin (USDC) directly within the popular MetaMask wallet. The partnership promises to cut on-ramping fees by about 50%. This is poised to open the door for more affordable access to one of the world’s most widely used stablecoins. Stablecoins in the Spotlight The timing of this move could not be better. Stablecoins, which are digital assets pegged to real money, have captured global attention. Adding to the frenzy is the passage of the GENIUS Act in the United States under the President Trump administration. The new law is crucial in setting the rules for digital assets backed by fiat currencies. Banks and other financial companies see the potential and are starting to use these tokens more in their services. USDC, which is tied 1:1 to the U.S. dollar, is at the center of this trend. It is the second-largest stablecoin by market value and has recently seen a big rise in use. According to USDC issuer Circle’s Q2 financial report, the amount of the token in circulation jumped 90% year-over-year, reaching $61.3 billion in the latest quarter. Analysts at Bernstein have even ranked Circle to be in a strong position to become the leading stablecoin network in the world. Coinbase Expands USDC Push with Mercuryo and JPMorgan Deals This partnership with Mercuryo is the latest step in Coinbase’s growing efforts around USDC. Recently, the exchange made a deal with JPMorgan to allow customers to convert credit card reward points into USDC on Base, Coinbase’s Layer 2 network. The new offer will help both new and existing USDC users who want to move money to Base through MetaMask. With fees cut by almost half, joining the Coinbase-backed network is now much more appealing for both everyday users and big investors. Coinbase Deal Strengthens USDC’s Place in Crypto Payments The news comes just a few days after Circle announced plans to create its own blockchain called Arc, which will be built specifically for stablecoins. On this new network, USDC will be used to pay transaction fees, making it both a payment method and a settlement tool. This move puts USDC in the spotlight as a key building block for blockchain systems. USDC was first launched in 2018 through a partnership between Circle and Coinbase under the CENTRE Consortium. The structure of that partnership has changed over time, but USDC is still closely tied to Coinbase’s plans. This new deal with Mercuryo makes that link even stronger. The post Coinbase to Make USDC On-Ramps Cheaper for MetaMask Users appeared first on TheCoinrise.com .
