Circle launches USDC and CCTP on Injective to enable native cross-chain transfers

Circle has launched USDC and its Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol (CCTP) on the Injective (INJ) network. The integration lets Injective developers and users use USDC for trading, lending, and payments, while transferring USDC between chains via CCTP. Key market detail: USDC is a widely used dollar-pegged stablecoin with market capitalization above $30B. With CCTP’s burn-and-mint design, USDC can move between Injective and other supported networks (e.g., Ethereum, Solana, Avalanche) without relying on third-party bridges, aiming to reduce bridge exploit and counterparty risk. Circle’s CCTP, launched in 2023, burns USDC on the source chain and mints on the destination chain to preserve a 1:1 peg backed by Circle reserves. Existing CCTP support includes Ethereum, Arbitrum, Optimism, and Base, and Injective is the latest addition. For traders and liquidity providers, native USDC on Injective can simplify entry/exit and improve capital efficiency versus converting to other assets or using less efficient stablecoins. The update is also positioned to support deeper liquidity for Injective DeFi apps and potentially attract more institutional and retail participation. Keywords: USDC, CCTP, Injective, cross-chain DeFi, stablecoin liquidity, bridge risk reduction.