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On Friday, Circle rolled out USDC Bridge, a cross-chain transfer solution built on its Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol (CCTP). The initiative is designed to make transferring USDC between different blockchain networks more straightforward for regular users.
USDC Bridge uses a 1:1 burn-and-mint mechanism. Tokens are destroyed on the originating blockchain and created natively on the receiving network, removing the need for wrapped token intermediaries.
The protocol displays transaction costs upfront before users finalize transfers. It also automatically manages destination-chain gas requirements, aiming to reduce confusion for less experienced users.
According to testing by a The Block journalist, moving $20 in USDC from Ethereum mainnet to Optimism carried a fee of roughly $0.20. Circle notes that cost structures can vary depending on transaction parameters.
Circle does not impose proprietary fees for CCTP usage. Users still pay standard network gas charges on both the source and destination blockchains, and faster “fast” transactions may involve premium costs.
At launch, USDC Bridge supports at least 17 EVM-compatible blockchain platforms. The list includes Ethereum, Avalanche, Arbitrum, Base, Optimism, Polygon, Sonic, Monad, Sei, and World Network.
While CCTP itself is compatible with a broader set of networks, including Solana, Sui, and Aptos, USDC Bridge currently limits functionality to EVM environments, temporarily excluding non-EVM alternatives.
Circle deploys USDC natively across multiple networks and on platforms such as Polymarket. USDC is described as the stablecoin sector’s second-largest asset by market capitalization.
Circle said cross-chain bridging infrastructure has historically been difficult for users, citing complex interfaces, unclear fee structures, and multi-step processes that have hindered adoption—particularly for newcomers. USDC Bridge is positioned as a refined alternative aimed at addressing these issues.
The bridge rollout comes shortly after Circle was served with a class action lawsuit. The complaint, filed on Wednesday, relates to approximately $230 million in USDC that transacted through CCTP following the April 1 Drift Protocol security breach.
More than 100 plaintiffs have joined the case, with representation provided by law firm Mira Gibb. The lawsuit alleges Circle aided and abetted conversion and includes negligence claims for failing to freeze the compromised assets. Final damages will be determined during trial proceedings.
Circle has not yet issued a comprehensive public statement addressing the lawsuit’s specifics.
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