Breaking: Coinbase Slashes USDC Fees for MetaMask Users on Base Network

Coinbase just dropped a fee-cut bombshell—MetaMask users on Base now get cheaper USDC transactions. No more bleeding value to gas wars.

Why it matters: Lower barriers = more adoption. Base’s scaling meets Coinbase’s distribution, and suddenly stablecoin swaps don’t feel like highway robbery.

The fine print: Still waiting for that 'zero-fee' crypto utopia? Keep dreaming—Wall Street’s got nothing on crypto’s creative fee structures.

Lower Fees for USDC On-Ramping via MetaMask

The partnership will reduce the cost for users to MOVE funds into USDC on Base by roughly 50%, according to Mercuryo’s estimates. This discount applies to both new and existing USDC holders using the Ethereum-based MetaMask wallet to access Base.

Mercuryo CEO Petr Kozyakov said stablecoins have become central to the 2025 crypto narrative, and the reduced fees are aimed at increasing accessibility:

“Stablecoins are serving many purposes in the emerging digital token economy and we are confident that MetaMask users will take full advantage of this discount offer for on-ramping USDC.”

By lowering the cost barrier, Coinbase and Mercuryo aim to boost liquidity and transaction volumes on Base while strengthening USDC’s position as a preferred stablecoin for decentralized applications.

Context: Stablecoins Surge Under the GENIUS Act

The revealfollows the recent passage of the GENIUS Act, a landmark U.S. regulatory framework for stablecoins. The act is expected to bring greater clarity to how fiat-backed digital tokens are issued, managed, and integrated into financial systems.

Stablecoins like USDC have already seen rising adoption among financial institutions, payment providers, and retail users. By pegging value to the U.S. dollar, USDC offers a bridge between traditional finance and decentralized applications, making it attractive for remittances, payments, and trading.

Circle’s Stablecoin-Native Layer 1 Using USDC as Gas

Adding to the momentum, USDC issuer Circle recently revealed plans to statrt a stablecoin-native LAYER 1 blockchain with USDC as its gas token. This is a significant shift from traditional blockchain models, which typically require network-specific tokens (such as ETH or SOL) for gas fees.

The new network aims to optimize transaction costs, speed, and efficiency for stablecoin-based applications, potentially making it easier for businesses and developers to integrate payment and settlement systems that run entirely on USDC.

This development underscores USDC’s evolution from a simple fiat-pegged asset to a foundational component of blockchain infrastructure.

Coinbase and Circle: A Longstanding Partnership

USDC was first statrted in 2018 through a partnership between Circle and Coinbase under the CENTRE Consortium. While the consortium model has since evolved, USDC remains closely tied to both companies.

Coinbase’s latest initiatives reflect an ongoing commitment to expanding USDC’s use cases. Recently, the exchange signed a deal with JPMorgan to allow customers to convert credit card reward points into USDC on Base. Such integrations aim to make stablecoin usage more intuitive for everyday consumers.

USDC Growth Metrics Paint a Bullish Picture

According to Circle’s latest quarterly earnings report, the amount of USDC in circulation has surged 90% year-over-year, reaching $61.3 billion. The spike follows Circle’s blockbuster IPO in June 2025, which bolstered investor confidence and provided new capital for scaling its products and infrastructure.

This growth is partly attributed to increasing institutional adoption and the integration of USDC into multiple blockchain ecosystems. The upcoming stablecoin-native Layer 1 could further accelerate demand.

Implications for Base and the Ethereum Ecosystem

The Base Layer 2 network, which leverages Ethereum’s security while offering faster and cheaper transactions, stands to benefit directly from this fee reduction. Lower on-ramping costs could attract more developers, users, and liquidity providers to Base, helping it compete with other Layer 2 solutions.

By integrating discounted USDC transfers into MetaMask — the most widely used non-custodial crypto wallet — Coinbase and Mercuryo are targeting the intersection of DeFi, NFTs, and cross-chain payments.

Market Outlook: A Stablecoin-Centric Future

The combined reveal from Coinbase, Mercuryo, and Circle highlight a clear market trajectory: stablecoins are moving from a niche trading tool to a Core pillar of the global digital economy.

With regulatory clarity improving in the U.S. and institutions signaling readiness to integrate stablecoin payments, USDC’s role could expand far beyond exchanges. Retail adoption, business payments, and on-chain settlements could all benefit from these lower transaction costs and improved infrastructure.

If Circle’s stablecoin-native Layer 1 succeeds and Base continues to attract users with competitive fees, USDC could cement itself as the default transaction medium in the next wave of blockchain growth.

If you want, I can now prepare a combined “Crypto Weekly Wrap” where we merge this USDC–Base–MetaMask piece with your Ethereum, Avalanche, MAGACOIN FINANCE, and XRP coverage into a single 2,000-word multi-asset market report for SEO. That WOULD maximize keyword reach for Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Avalanche, USDC, and emerging altcoins in one authoritative article.