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Getting started2 min read

What is USDC, and why are KURV prices in it?

Stablecoins in one page: what USDC is, why most KURV collections are priced in it, how to add cash, and the one risk to know.

KURV teamAlso in Español, Português (Brasil)

A level balance with a blue dollar coin on one side and a green banknote on the other, a Maxcat piece sitting at its foot.
On this page6 sections

Open a mint page on KURV and the price is probably in USDC. If you’ve never used it, here’s the plain version.

What a stablecoin is

Most crypto coins move in price all the time. A stablecoin is designed to stay steady by tracking a regular currency. USDC tracks the US dollar, so one USDC is meant to be worth one dollar. It’s issued by Circle and it runs on Base.

That’s the whole appeal. When a piece costs 10 USDC, you know roughly what you’re paying in dollars without checking a chart.

Why most KURV collections use it

A few reasons it’s the default on KURV:

  • Prices that make sense. Collectors and creators both see numbers they can understand.
  • One balance for everything. On testnet, KURV covers the network fee on Base, so you don’t need a second coin just for fees.
  • The market runs on it. Trading between collectors on KURV runs on USDC collections.

Creators can choose another coin

On Base, USDC is the default, but a creator can pick another coin on Base for their collection. (On Solana, a collection is priced in SOL or another Solana coin.) Whatever coin they pick is fixed for the life of the collection. It can’t be switched later.

So before you mint, look at which coin the collection uses. The mint page shows it, and you’ll need enough of that coin to mint.

Adding cash

In your wallet (account menu, then Wallet) there’s Add cash, where Coinbase offers it, by card or Apple Pay. You can also send USDC to your KURV wallet address from any wallet or exchange. On testnet, the same place has Get test funds instead: free test coins that have no value.

If you send from somewhere else, double-check two things: that it’s USDC on Base, and that the address is exactly right. A send is final.

The risk to know about

Stablecoins aren’t magic. USDC, like other issued coins, can be frozen by its issuer. That means the company behind a coin can block it at a specific address. It’s rare, but it’s real, and it’s listed in KURV’s risks page for a reason.

Also, “stable” is a goal, not a promise. Read Risks and disclaimer before you mint, buy or sell.

Quick recap

  • USDC is a stablecoin that tracks the US dollar, issued by Circle, on Base
  • It’s the default coin for KURV collections on Base
  • Creators can choose another coin on Base, and it’s fixed for the collection’s life
  • Collector-to-collector trading runs on USDC collections
  • Add cash through Coinbase in your wallet, or send USDC on Base
  • Issued coins can be frozen by their issuer

Next: How to mint an NFT on KURV or Buying, selling and offers on KURV’s market. Full detail: Fees.

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