Coinbase Slashes USDC Transfer Fees in Game-Changing Partnership

Coinbase just fired a shot across the bow of traditional finance—USDC transfers just got cheaper.

The exchange announced a strategic partnership today that bypasses legacy banking rails, dropping costs for one of crypto's most widely-used stablecoins. No more hidden fees eating into your stack—unless you count the irony of fiat-backed tokens needing 'rescue partnerships' in the first place.

This isn't just a fee cut—it's a direct challenge to the SWIFT system's stranglehold on cross-border payments. The move comes as stablecoins increasingly become the bridge between crypto and traditional finance, with USDC emerging as a key player.

While banks debate CBDCs in endless committees, Coinbase is rewriting the rulebook. Again.

Significant Reduction in USDC Fees on MetaMask Expected

The collaboration between Coinbase and Mercuryo is poised to make transferring USDC to Base more affordable via MetaMask. With the integration of Coinbase’s network, users benefiting from Mercuryo’s infrastructure can anticipate a notable decrease in fiat purchase fees. This partnership caters to both new and existing USDC users, targeting an expansion in USDC accessibility on the Base network.

Mercuryo CEO Petr Kozyakov remarked that “Stablecoins will be central to the crypto narrative by 2025. We believe MetaMask users will fully benefit from this discount.” As signals of institutional integration grow stronger within the market, the cost reduction provides a practical convenience that supports adoption. Being a Layer-2 network developed by Coinbase, Base enhances the fluidity of wallet and network transitions.

Circle’s Vision for USDC and Layer-1 Network

Recently, Circle announced plans to build a stablecoin-native Layer-1 network positioning USDC as a transaction fee coin. Initially introduced to the market through Circle and Coinbase’s Centre Consortium, USDC maintains a strong alliance with major exchanges. This closeness fosters network effects and expands its usability.

In a recent commitment, Coinbase partnered with JPMorgan to allow the conversion of credit card points into USDC on Base while continuing to support the altcoin via additional initiatives. As of the latest data, USDC ranks as the second-largest stablecoin by market capitalization. Following its public listing in June, Circle’s latest quarterly report revealed that the circulating supply of USDC had surged by 90% year-on-year, reaching $61.3 billion.