Stablecoins like USDC can make crypto practical, and networks like Linea can help stablecoins move faster. By combining USDC’s reliability with Linea’s relatively low fee structure and Ethereum-grade security, users can often move money globally in just seconds and for only fractions of a cent. Whether you’re sending money across the world, building decentralized apps (dApps), or using decentralized finance (DeFi), native USDC on Linea can give you seamless, scalable, real-world usability. Combining USDC's reliability with Linea’s high-performance blockchain can result in quicker and cheaper transactions, and a smoother user experience (UX). This guide explains how Linea supports USDC and walks you through obtaining USDC on the Linea blockchain.
Qu'est-ce que l'USDC ?
As a quick reminder, USDC is a stablecoin — a type of cryptocurrency designed to maintain a stable value — that’s backed 100% by highly liquid cash and cash-equivalent assets. USDC leverages the power of the internet and blockchain technology to be transferable almost anywhere with near-instant settlement and near-zero fees. USDC is readily available to those with an internet connection and a digital wallet in more than 180 countries around the world.
Because USDC operates on blockchain networks, transactions are processed rapidly and efficiently without the need for traditional banking intermediaries. Blockchains function continuously, 24/7, eliminating delays associated with bank operating hours, holidays, or cross-border settlements. This constant availability allows for near-instant transfer of funds at any time, reducing both the time and cost typically involved in moving money globally.
What is Linea?
Linea is a Layer-2 (L2) blockchain built on Ethereum, and reflects years of engineering expertise in Ethereum infrastructure. It was developed by blockchain company ConsenSys (the same company behind MetaMask and Infura, which power many Ethereum dApps and wallets). Linea was designed for rapid, cost-effective, and efficient digital asset transactions.
At times, Ethereum’s main network can get bogged down with high network traffic, becoming slow and expensive. Linea is designed to improve the speed and transaction costs for digital assets in the Ethereum ecosystem, including USDC. Linea does this by bundling transactions using zero-knowledge proofs (ZK proofs) before confirming them on Ethereum. This setup can reduce transaction congestion on the Ethereum network while still allowing Linea to rely on Ethereum for its underlying security.
The Linea blockchain provides developers and users alike with seamless compatibility with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). This EVM compatibility lets you easily use your favorite Ethereum dApps on Linea. Linea also supports passkeys and native account abstraction. These features are intended to enhance the security and ease of your experience.
What is Linea-native USDC?
Linea-native USDC refers to USDC that is issued natively on the Linea blockchain. Specifically designed to take advantage of Linea’s speed, cost-effectiveness, and efficient transaction confirmation, Linea-native USDC is designed to maintain stable value combined with the high performance of Linea.
Linea was the first blockchain to upgrade from a bridged version of USDC to native USDC. Linea-native USDC is a standard ERC-20 token, the same standard used by most tokens on Ethereum and EVM-compatible blockchains. Native USDC on Linea works effortlessly with Ethereum-friendly apps, wallets, and other tools. This compatibility with Ethereum allows you to use USDC on Linea to send, spend, save, and trade USDC using your favorite wallets, exchanges, and apps.
Why use USDC on Linea?
Linea enables USDC transactions that are often faster and cheaper than Ethereum transactions, while benefitting from Ethereum’s underlying security. Here are a few reasons why Linea could be a good option for making transactions with USDC and other digital assets:
- Fast transactions: Linea uses zero-knowledge rollups (ZK rollups), allowing multiple transactions to be bundled and processed simultaneously. Think of ZK rollups like packing dozens of letters into a single envelope: faster, cheaper delivery with the same destination. This can reduce wait times dramatically. As of September 2025, Linea transactions were being confirmed nearly instantaneously, with block times averaging under three seconds.
- Affordable costs: Based on onchain data, transaction fees on Linea are often very affordable compared to Ethereum. This affordability can benefit frequent, practical, and cost-effective USDC transactions — even for small dollar amounts. In September 2025, Linea transaction fees were around 0.1 Gwei — equating to approximately $0.0008 per transaction. This can make everything from recurring social media posts to DeFi use cases more cost effective.
- Seamless Ethereum compatibility: Linea supports Ethereum-based smart contracts, apps, and token standards. This makes it simple to integrate and use USDC on Linea with existing Ethereum apps. As a blockchain that combines ZK rollups with EVM compatibility (i.e., a “ZK EVM” chain), Linea is a cost-effective blockchain with access to all the Ethereum-compatible options.
Whether you’re sending quick transfers, making everyday purchases, using DeFi apps, or more, Linea offers a streamlined onchain environment for efficiently using ETH, USDC, and other compatible assets.
Comprendre les plateformes d’échange et les portefeuilles de cryptomonnaies
Before diving into the step-by-step process of acquiring USDC on Linea, it’s important to understand the platforms and tools you’ll use: crypto exchanges and wallets.
Les plateformes d’échange permettent d’acheter, de vendre et de trader des cryptomonnaies. Elles servent d’intermédiaires entre acheteurs et vendeurs, et permettent souvent d’effectuer des transactions de monnaie fiat à crypto et de crypto à monnaie fiat. Les utilisateurs peuvent ainsi utiliser des rampes d’accès et de sortie pour des actifs numériques comme l’USDC. Il existe deux principaux types de plateformes d’échange :
- Les plateformes d’échange centralisées (CEX) : elles sont gérées par des entreprises et comprennent souvent des interfaces conviviales et un excellent service à la clientèle. Cependant, les actifs achetés sont stockés dans des portefeuilles dépositaires, ce qui signifie que vous devez faire confiance à la plateforme de CEX pour la conservation et la sécurisation de vos actifs. Les utilisateurs ne contrôlent pas totalement leurs actifs à moins qu’ils ne les transfèrent vers un portefeuille non dépositaire.
- Les plateformes de decentralized exchange (DEX) : basées sur la blockchain, les transactions sont effectuées sans autorité centrale. Les utilisateurs effectuent des échanges de pair à pair (P2P) avec l’aide de smart contracts. Pour utiliser une plateforme de DEX, vous devez connecter un portefeuille non dépositaire compatible. Ces portefeuilles offrent un plus grand contrôle sur vos actifs, mais vous êtes responsable de leur sécurité. De même, les plateformes de DEX permettent de mieux contrôler l’expérience de trading, mais leur utilisation peut être plus complexe.
Les portefeuilles de cryptomonnaies permettent de stocker et de gérer vos actifs numériques en toute sécurité. Ils se divisent en deux catégories principales :
- Les portefeuilles dépositaires : souvent fournis par les plateformes de CEX, ils sont pratiques mais dépendent de la plateforme d’échange pour gérer les clés privées associées à vos actifs.
- Les portefeuilles non dépositaires : ils donnent aux utilisateurs un contrôle total sur leurs fonds et leurs clés privées (ou phrases de récupération), mais il faut faire preuve de prudence pour éviter les pertes.
En comprenant les différences entre les plateformes d’échange et les portefeuilles, vous pouvez mieux déterminer où acheter, stocker et gérer vos USDC, et trouver le juste milieu entre praticité et sécurité.
Step-by-step guide to get USDC on Linea
1. Buy USDC on Linea via a CEX
You can purchase Linea-native USDC using major exchanges like OKX.
- Create your account: Sign up for a CEX account that supports USDC on Linea. As of September 4, 2025, native USDC is natively available on 20+ different blockchains (see here for a complete and up-to-date list). To determine if Linea-native USDC is available on a given CEX, check the FAQ section or contact the CEX’s customer support if you have more questions.
- Deposit funds: Transfer fiat currency (e.g., USD, EUR, etc.) into your CEX account via bank transfer, card payment, or another supported option.
- Buy Linea USDC: Select USDC and choose Linea as the supported blockchain. Then confirm your purchase to receive USDC on Linea.
2. Swap for USDC on Linea using a DEX
Linea supports DEX platforms like 1inch, Sushi Swap, Uniswap, and many others — allowing for direct token swaps. To get USDC using a DEX, follow these steps:
- Connect your wallet: Use a compatible non-custodial wallet (e.g., MetaMask or Phantom Wallet) to access a Linea-supported DEX.
- Choose trading pair: Select a compatible asset you hold in your wallet (e.g., ETH) and start a swap for Linea USDC.
- Complete the trade: Confirm transaction details and execute the swap to receive native USDC on Linea.
3. Make an in-wallet swap
Many non-custodial wallets, like MetaMask, offer built-in swaps. Follow these steps to trade for Linea-native USDC directly in your wallet:
- Open the swap feature: Navigate to your wallet’s trading section.
- Select tokens: Choose the asset you’d like to trade and select Linea-native USDC as the asset to receive.
- Execute swap: Verify the details and fees, then confirm the transaction. Your wallet should now have a Linea USDC balance.
4. Use a Linea USDC bridge
Nous avons brièvement évoqué les échanges inter-chaînes et la manière dont certains portefeuilles et plateformes de DEX prennent en charge la fonctionnalité de transfert d’un actif entre deux blockchains différentes. Mais dans le cas de l’USDC, il existe deux solutions pour le transférer vers un autre réseau. Il convient de distinguer l’USDC natif et l’USDC relié par pont (bridge).
As a reminder, native USDC originates directly from Circle on a particular blockchain, and is fully supported by the originating blockchain. Bridged USDC, however, is created when USDC is locked in a smart contract on one blockchain (i.e., the origin blockchain) and a “synthetic” or “bridged” form of USDC is minted (or created) on another supported blockchain (i.e., the destination blockchain) by a third-party bridge dApp. Crucially, bridged USDC is not issued by Circle, and only native USDC, issued through a regulated entity of Circle, is fully reserved and redeemable 1:1. Many blockchains support both native and bridged USDC — so you should always be aware of which version you’re interacting with. If you’re not sure which version of USDC you’re dealing with, compare the token’s contract address on a blockchain explorer (e.g., Etherscan or LineaScan) with the official list provided by Circle.
Most USDC obtained from centralized exchanges is native. USDC transferred between blockchains with a bridge may be native or bridged, depending on whether the bridge is powered by Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol (CCTP). Developed by Circle as a permissionless tool for transferring USDC between supported blockchains, CCTP is a powerful tool that burns (or destroys) USDC on one chain, and mints native USDC on another supported destination chain without having to keep any USDC “locked” in a smart contract. Transferring USDC natively is a better alternative to using a traditional bridge, whose security protocols may not be as robust as Circle’s, the issuer of USDC.
CCTP is integrated into wallets like MetaMask, DEXs like OKX (not to be confused with the centralized exchange, OKX), and cross-chain bridges like Across, Allbridge, and Wormhole — just to name a few. Learn more about CCTP and see a complete list of dApp integrations here. Then use CCTP-powered platforms to seamlessly bridge native USDC between supported blockchains.
Important considerations for Linea USDC
When transacting with USDC on Linea, you need to ensure that both your wallet and exchange support the native Linea version of USDC. Not all platforms or apps are compatible. Using a wallet or exchange that doesn’t support the Linea version of USDC can lead to deposit failures or withdrawal issues. This step is critically important so users should always be careful and check compatibility before transacting. Failure to do so can result in the loss of your USDC holdings.
Unlike bridged versions of USDC, which often require additional steps to access and may incur higher fees, native USDC on Linea seamlessly integrates with other EVM-compatible networks. Before making large USDC transfers, it’s also a good practice to make a small test transaction on the network first. This helps you confirm that your next transaction will work as expected, which can help prevent potential mistakes or unexpected technical issues.
How to use USDC on Linea
USDC on Linea lets you make transactions faster and more affordably than on Ethereum mainnet, while still prioritizing security. Often used for daily payments and DeFi, Linea provides a powerful platform for both retail users and developers. To explore further and find more integrations supporting USDC on Linea, visit the official USDC ecosystem catalog.
