USDC Market Cap Nears Record High Amid Middle East Demand Surge

The market capitalization of the USDC stablecoin is nearing a record high of approximately $80 billion, driven by increasing demand in the Middle East. According to Cointelegraph, this surge is linked to capital flight from the United Arab Emirates, as investors seek alternatives to traditional markets. Data from CoinMarketCap indicates that USDC's circulating supply has reached around $79.2 billion, surpassing its previous peak of under $79 billion in December last year. The stablecoin's market cap has expanded significantly in recent weeks, rising from just over $70 billion in early February to $75 billion earlier this month. Dubai-based analyst Rami Al-Hashimi attributes the surge in USDC demand to a downturn in the UAE's real estate market. He noted that property prices in Dubai have plummeted by approximately 27% this month, prompting investors to shift capital into digital assets. Al-Hashimi highlighted that over-the-counter (OTC) desks in Dubai are struggling to meet the growing demand for USDC. He also mentioned that some property sellers are now accepting cryptocurrency payments directly, offering discounts for buyers who pay with Bitcoin. This trend underscores the increasing appeal of digital assets during times of financial uncertainty. In a related development, Japanese investment bank Mizuho reports that USDC has overtaken Tether's USDt in adjusted transaction volume for the first time since 2019. The bank's research indicates that USDC recorded about $2.2 trillion in adjusted transaction volume year-to-date, compared to $1.3 trillion for USDt, giving USDC approximately 64% of the combined transaction share. Despite this shift in transaction activity, USDt remains the largest stablecoin by market capitalization, standing at about $184 billion, significantly ahead of USDC's $79 billion.