币界网报道：USDC's circulating supply has surged by 400 million tokens over the past week, marking one of the largest single-week expansions since mid-2023. The stablecoin's total supply now stands at approximately 28.5 billion, reflecting renewed market confidence after months of contraction. Industry analysts attribute this growth to increasing institutional demand for dollar-pegged assets amid recent crypto market volatility. Circle, the issuer of USDC, reported heightened adoption across decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms and cross-border payment solutions. The supply increase coincides with rising trading volumes for USDC pairs on major exchanges, suggesting broader liquidity needs in crypto markets. This expansion contrasts with USDC's significant supply reduction following last year's banking crisis, when its circulation dropped from over 40 billion to below 25 billion at one point. Market observers note the timing aligns with growing regulatory clarity for stablecoins in key jurisdictions, potentially encouraging more institutional participation. The stablecoin's market capitalization remains second only to Tether (USDT) in the dollar-pegged asset category, though still significantly below its 2022 peak levels. On-chain data shows particular demand growth in Asia-Pacific markets, where traders appear to be using USDC as both a trading vehicle and dollar hedge. Circle executives have indicated plans to expand USDC's utility in emerging markets through new partnership integrations in Q1 2024.