Both are dollar stablecoins, but they differ on networks, reserves and reach. A practical comparison to help you decide which to accept — or whether to take both.
Stablecoins are the quiet workhorse of crypto payments: dollar value, no volatility, instant settlement. The two you will meet most are USDT (Tether) and USDC (USD Coin). Here is how they compare for a merchant.
USDT is the most widely held and traded stablecoin in the world — if a customer holds any stablecoin, it is probably USDT. USDC is close behind and is popular with businesses that value its regulated, fully-reserved profile.
USDC is known for its regulated, transparent reserve reporting, which some businesses prefer. USDT is the incumbent with the deepest liquidity. Both hold a dollar peg that makes "one dollar in, one dollar settled" reliable.
The honest answer: accept both. There is no extra integration — the buyer simply picks their coin and network at checkout. Offering both maximises the chance a customer can pay with what they already hold, and you settle to a clean USD balance either way.
Want to see live values? Try the converter, then open an account to start accepting stablecoins.
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