Coinbase has joined forces with Mercuryo, the crypto payments infrastructure platform, to cut fees for buying USDC through MetaMask on the Base network.
With this integration, fees are expected to drop by about 50% for both new and existing users, making it easier and cheaper to convert dollars into USDC and access the growing stablecoin market.
“Stablecoins are at the center of the crypto narrative of 2025, with USDC playing a fundamental role,” Mercuryo CEO Petr Kozyakov said in the official release, adding that these tokens have many uses in the digital economy, from payments to investments. He expects MetaMask users to take full advantage of the discount.
Coinbase has also launched other initiatives, including a partnership with JPMorgan that allows credit card points to be converted into USDC on Base. “There is a growing demand for USDC today, and we are excited to offer this discount available to MetaMask’s userbase,” says Coinbase Chief Business Officer Shan Aggarwal.
Stablecoins Gain Momentum
The growth in the interest in stablecoins like USDC can be traced to the passage of the GENIUS Act, which establishes licensing and regulatory framework for stablecoin issuers in the United States.
MetaMask’s Senior Product Manager Lorenzo Santos said as stablecoin use increases on the wallet, more users will likely turn to USDC. The partnership between Mercuryo and Coinbase is designed to make stablecoins faster, more accessible, and cheaper for users.
The move comes shortly after Circle announced plans to build a stablecoin-native Layer 1 blockchain called Arc. USDC will be used as the gas token, allowing users to pay fees directly in USDC. Circle says Arc will offer low, predictable transaction costs in dollars, avoiding the swings of other cryptocurrencies.
USDC is currently the second-largest stablecoin by market capitalization. Circle reported that USDC in circulation grew 90% year-on-year to $61.3 billion in its latest report.
The fee reductions and new infrastructure signal growing interest from financial institutions and crypto users. By lowering fees and supporting new Layer 1 solutions, USDC is becoming easier to use and more central in digital payments. These initiatives aim to strengthen stablecoins as key tools in the expanding crypto economy.
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