BTC/USDC: Convert and Swap Bitcoin (BTC) to USDC (USDC)

Bitcoin (BTC) is a decentralized cryptocurrency that was first described in a 2008 whitepaper by an individual or group of individuals using the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. Launched in January 2009, Bitcoin is a peer-to-peer online currency that enables transactions to occur directly between equal, independent network participants without the need for an intermediary. Bitcoin was created with the intention of allowing online payments to be sent directly from one party to another without going through a financial institution. Bitcoin is the first-ever cryptocurrency to come into actual use and has inspired the development of thousands of competing projects. The entire cryptocurrency market, now worth more than $2 trillion, is based on the idea realized by Bitcoin: money that can be sent and received by anyone, anywhere in the world without reliance on trusted intermediaries, such as banks and financial services companies.

Bitcoin operates on a technology known as blockchain, a decentralized ledger of all transactions that is used to record transactions across many computers so that any involved record cannot be altered retroactively, without the alteration of all subsequent blocks. Bitcoin transactions are verified by network nodes through cryptography and recorded on the blockchain. Bitcoin mining, the process by which new bitcoins are entered into circulation, involves solving computationally difficult puzzles to discover a new block, which is added to the blockchain. The supply of Bitcoin is limited and will never exceed 21,000,000 coins. New coins are created during the process known as mining, where transactions are added to blocks, which are in turn added to the blockchain.

Bitcoin's most unique advantage is that it was the first cryptocurrency to appear on the market. It has managed to create a global community and has given birth to an entirely new industry of millions of enthusiasts who create, invest in, trade, and use Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in their everyday lives. Bitcoin's primary use case is as a decentralized store of value. In other words, it provides for ownership rights as a physical asset or as a unit of account. Bitcoin also aims to be a medium of exchange for goods and services, although it is currently used more for the former than the latter.

Bitcoin's original inventor is known under a pseudonym, Satoshi Nakamoto. As of 2021, the true identity of the person — or organization — that is behind the alias remains unknown. On October 31, 2008, Nakamoto published Bitcoin’s whitepaper, which described in detail how a peer-to-peer, online currency could be implemented. Just two months later, on January 3, 2009, Nakamoto mined the first block on the Bitcoin network, known as the genesis block, thus launching the world’s first cryptocurrency. The first known Bitcoin commercial transaction occurred on May 22, 2010, when programmer Laszlo Hanyecz traded 10,000 Bitcoins for two pizzas. This event is now known as “Bitcoin Pizza Day.” Over the years a large number of people have contributed to improving the cryptocurrency’s software by patching vulnerabilities and adding new features. Bitcoin’s source code repository on GitHub lists more than 750 contributors.

USDC, or USD Coin, is a stablecoin that is pegged to the U.S. dollar on a 1:1 basis. This means that for every unit of USDC in circulation, there is $1 held in reserve, in a mix of cash and short-term U.S. Treasury bonds. The Centre consortium, the organization behind USDC, ensures that this cryptocurrency is issued by regulated financial institutions. USDC was launched in September 2018 with the aim of providing a digital currency for the digital age. It is designed for a world where cashless transactions are becoming increasingly common.

USDC operates as an ERC-20 token on the Ethereum blockchain. This means that it can be integrated with Ethereum-based applications, providing security and confidence in the stablecoin. The assurance that users can withdraw 1 USDC and receive $1 in return without any issues is a key aspect of how USDC works. To ensure this, a major accounting firm is tasked with verifying the levels of cash held in reserve and ensuring this matches up with the number of tokens in circulation. The number of USDC that can exist is limitless, with new coins created in line with demand, whenever someone wants to purchase one with their dollar.

USDC has several potential use cases. It can provide a safe haven for crypto traders in times of volatility, allowing them to hold their value in a stable asset. Businesses can also use USDC to accept payments in digital assets, potentially shaking up sectors such as decentralized finance and gaming. The goal is to create an ecosystem where USDC is accepted by as many wallets, exchanges, service providers, and decentralized applications (dApps) as possible. This aims to enhance the cryptocurrency space by providing a stable and reliable digital currency.

USDC was launched in September 2018 by the Centre Consortium, which has two founding members: the peer-to-peer payment services company Circle and the cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase. In 2020, Circle and Coinbase announced a major upgrade to USDC’s protocol and smart contract, with the goal of making it easier for USDC to be used for everyday payments, commerce, and peer-to-peer transactions. Unlike some crypto ventures, Circle and Coinbase have achieved regulatory compliance, which has helped pave the way for international expansion. Both projects are also well-funded, giving the stablecoin certainty. The transparency over the provenance of its funds has been a big reason for USDC's success.