How to Get Paid in USDC: A Complete Guide
Source: Dev.to
Why USDC?
USDC (USD Coin) is a dollar‑pegged stablecoin issued by Circle. Unlike Bitcoin or Ethereum, its value stays at $1, making it practical for real‑business payments.

| Feature | Traditional Bank Wire | PayPal/Stripe | USDC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed | 2‑5 business days | Instant to 2 days | Minutes |
| Fees | $25‑$50 flat | 2.9 % + $0.30 | $0.01‑$1 (network fee) |
| Cross‑border | Complex, expensive | Limited countries | Global, borderless |
| Settlement | T+2 to T+5 | T+2 | Instant |
| Account Risk | Can be frozen | Can be frozen | Self‑custody |
Example: A $1,000 international payment might cost $40 in wire fees and take a week. Using USDC on Base or Polygon costs |
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| X-PAYMENT: [signed tx] |
| |
| {
// Your protected logic here
return c.json({ summary: "AI‑generated content…" });
});
export default app;
With x402, you can charge per request, support AI agents, and enable true micropayments—all without building a custom prepaid system.