Circle Internet Financial minted 1 billion USDC on the Solana blockchain on June 16, 2026, contributing to a record weekly issuance of approximately $3.5 billion across major networks. The large mint reflects surging institutional and retail demand for the stablecoin amid expanding DeFi activity and cross-border payment use cases.
The single-day Solana mint adds to Circle’s aggressive expansion on the high-speed blockchain, which has become a preferred network for USDC due to its low fees and fast finality. Solana now ranks among the top chains by USDC supply, trailing only Ethereum. Total circulating USDC supply has grown steadily throughout 2026, surpassing $60 billion as the stablecoin solidifies its position as the second-largest after Tether’s USDT.
Circle attributed the strong issuance to increased activity from trading firms, payment processors, and decentralized applications. The company noted growing adoption in treasury management, real-world asset tokenization, and on-chain settlements. Weekly issuance of $3.5 billion marks one of the highest figures in recent months, signaling renewed momentum in crypto markets and broader integration of stablecoins into traditional finance rails.
Analysts view the figures as a positive indicator for overall market liquidity and sentiment. Solana’s ecosystem has benefited particularly from the influx, with rising TVL in DeFi protocols and higher transaction volumes. Circle maintains full reserves for all USDC, with monthly attestations provided by leading accounting firms.
The development comes as stablecoin regulation, including the stalled CLARITY Act, remains a key focus in Washington. Circle continues to push for clearer U.S. frameworks while expanding globally. With USDC seeing record usage in payments and trading, the latest mint underscores the stablecoin’s growing systemic importance in digital finance.