The start of 2025 has already marked a pivotal moment in the evolution of digital currencies. Bitcoin’s price surged from $20,000 to nearly $60,000 within just a month, reigniting global interest and speculation. For early believers, this rally is more than just profit—it’s validation. A decade ago, a small group of visionaries laid the foundation for what we now recognize as the cryptocurrency movement in China. Some were idealists, others entrepreneurs or speculators. Today, their paths have diverged—some faded into obscurity, others pivoted, and a few achieved remarkable success.
This price surge isn’t happening in a vacuum. The infrastructure supporting digital assets is maturing rapidly. Most notably, Visa’s recent announcement that it will allow USDC settlement across its network signals a major leap toward mainstream financial integration.
👉 Discover how global payment networks are reshaping the future of money.
Visa Embraces USDC: A Milestone for Crypto Legitimacy
According to reports from Sina Finance, Visa Inc. has officially enabled the use of USD Coin (USDC) for transaction settlements on its global network. This move is far more than symbolic—it reflects a growing acceptance of digital assets by traditional financial institutions.
Visa dominates the global payments landscape with a significantly larger market share than competitors like PayPal. While PayPal was an early adopter of crypto services, Visa’s entry brings unparalleled scale and credibility. With billions of users and millions of merchants worldwide, its support for USDC could accelerate stablecoin adoption across e-commerce, remittances, and cross-border transactions.
This shift underscores a fundamental change in the crypto market's fundamentals. Unlike previous cycles driven purely by speculation, today’s growth is backed by institutional adoption. Major corporations, university endowments, insurance funds, and even pension funds are beginning to allocate capital to Bitcoin and other digital assets.
There are two primary types of institutional involvement:
- Direct holders: Companies like MicroStrategy and Tesla that hold Bitcoin on their balance sheets.
- Enablers: Platforms such as PayPal and now Visa that facilitate crypto transactions without necessarily holding the assets themselves.
As more financial gatekeepers integrate digital currencies, the ecosystem becomes more resilient and accessible—creating a positive feedback loop for adoption.
The Road to a Crypto-Native Financial System
Imagine a future where:
- An American worker receives their salary in USDC.
- They pay rent, utilities, and credit card bills using stablecoins.
- They invest excess funds into Bitcoin or Ethereum through decentralized platforms.
This isn’t science fiction—it’s becoming increasingly plausible. As William once noted:
“If one day you can buy a Tesla with Bitcoin and repay your credit card with stablecoins, what does that mean? It means people may no longer need to rely on traditional fiat currencies.”
While full decoupling from fiat is still years away, Visa’s move opens the door to that reality. It legitimizes stablecoins as viable payment instruments and sets a precedent for other financial giants—possibly Mastercard, Apple Pay, or even central banks—to follow.
Moreover, Ukraine’s newly appointed finance minister recently stated in an interview with Novosty 24 that while he doesn’t fully understand the technical underpinnings of cryptocurrency, he believes it holds “promise.” He added that the country’s digital transformation team aims to regulate the market and sees potential for crypto to become a global settlement currency.
This sentiment echoes broader trends. As inflation erodes purchasing power in many economies, especially those with unstable monetary policies, holding Bitcoin as a hedge against currency devaluation becomes not just strategic—but necessary.
Why USDC’s Growth Boosts Ethereum
USDC is not just any stablecoin—it’s an ERC-20 token built on the Ethereum blockchain. That means every time USDC is used for payment, settlement, or DeFi activity, it generates network traffic and demand for ETH (Ethereum’s native currency), which is required to pay transaction fees.
As Visa expands USDC usage across its network, Ethereum effectively becomes the underlying settlement layer for these transactions—making Ethereum a backbone of traditional finance operations.
As DeFi influencer He Taiji pointed out:
“Visa supporting USDC is like traditional finance running on top of DeFi. This is the future—and it’s bullish for Ethereum.”
Circle and Coinbase co-founded the CENTRE consortium to launch USDC with a clear mission: bring stability and trust to the volatile crypto market. After controversies surrounding Tether’s reserves, USDC positioned itself as a transparent, regulated alternative—fully backed by U.S. dollar reserves.
Key advantages of USDC include:
- Full reserve backing with audited holdings.
- Regulatory compliance and transparency.
- Interoperability across blockchains (though primarily on Ethereum).
- Programmability via smart contracts—enabling use in lending, trading, and automated finance applications.
With Visa’s endorsement, USDC’s utility will expand beyond crypto-native platforms into everyday commerce—further embedding Ethereum into the global financial infrastructure.
Some analysts, including prominent investor “Brother Jiang,” predict that ETH could reach $20,000 in the next bull cycle, potentially surpassing Bitcoin in market capitalization. While ambitious, such forecasts reflect growing confidence in Ethereum’s role as the foundation for decentralized finance and tokenized real-world assets.
👉 See how blockchain networks are powering the next generation of finance.
The Rise of Decentralized Governance: DeGate’s Social Media Airdrop
In parallel with institutional adoption, grassroots innovation continues to thrive. DeGate (DG), a decentralized exchange built on Ethereum Layer 2, recently launched a governance token distribution campaign targeting early blockchain advocates.
The project will distribute 10 million DG tokens (1% of total supply) at a fixed price of $0.005 to users who previously promoted blockchain technology on Twitter and Weibo. Participants can register until April 6 via the DeGate website.
This initiative highlights a key trend: rewarding community contributors and decentralizing control. By allocating tokens to influencers and educators rather than venture capitalists alone, DeGate reinforces the ethos of open, permissionless innovation.
It also reflects how digital identity and social reputation are becoming valuable assets in Web3 ecosystems.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is USDC and why is it important?
USDC (USD Coin) is a regulated stablecoin pegged 1:1 to the U.S. dollar, issued by Circle and backed by transparent reserves. Its importance lies in bridging traditional finance with blockchain—offering stability, speed, and programmability for payments and DeFi applications.
2. Does Visa support Bitcoin directly?
Not yet. Visa currently supports USDC settlement, not direct Bitcoin transactions. However, increased infrastructure for crypto payments indirectly benefits Bitcoin by normalizing digital asset usage.
3. How does Visa using USDC affect Ethereum?
Since USDC operates primarily as an ERC-20 token on Ethereum, increased transaction volume drives higher demand for ETH to pay gas fees—strengthening Ethereum’s network effects and value proposition.
4. Can stablecoins replace traditional money?
While full replacement is unlikely soon, stablecoins are increasingly used for cross-border payments, remittances, and in high-inflation economies. With support from major players like Visa, their role in global finance will continue expanding.
5. Is now a good time to invest in crypto?
Market timing is risky. However, growing institutional adoption, regulatory clarity, and real-world utility suggest that digital assets are transitioning from speculative tools to foundational components of modern finance.
6. Will more payment networks follow Visa’s lead?
Highly likely. With PayPal already offering crypto services and Visa integrating USDC, competitors like Mastercard or Apple Pay may soon announce similar initiatives to remain competitive.
👉 Stay ahead of the curve—explore how payment giants are integrating crypto.
Final Thoughts: The Inevitable March Toward Digital Finance
The convergence of traditional finance and blockchain technology is no longer theoretical—it’s underway. Visa’s decision to support USDC settlement is not an isolated event but part of a broader transformation.
From Bitcoin’s resurgence to Ethereum’s expanding utility and community-driven projects like DeGate, the ecosystem is evolving on multiple fronts. For investors, developers, and everyday users, the message is clear: digital currencies are here to stay.
Whether you’re holding Bitcoin as long-term savings, using stablecoins for payments, or participating in decentralized governance—the tools are now available. The future of money is digital, open, and increasingly accessible.
Now is the time to understand it, engage with it—and be part of it.