Stablecoins are digital assets designed to maintain a stable value, typically by being pegged to a fiat currency such as the U.S. dollar, euro, or Brazilian real. This characteristic makes them widely used for payments, cross-border transfers, financial settlement, asset trading, and other blockchain-based applications.
Although they share the same basic principle, not all stablecoins serve the same purpose. The reference currency, issuer, liquidity, and use cases vary across assets, making each one better suited to specific markets and operations.
That's the case with USDT, USDC, EURC, and BRZ. While USDT and USDC are pegged to the U.S. dollar, EURC represents the euro, and BRZ maintains parity with the Brazilian real, serving different markets and financial flows.
In this article, you'll learn the key differences between these stablecoins, their main applications, and the criteria businesses and users can consider when choosing the right asset for each situation.
USDT: Global Liquidity for Trading and Payments
USDT (Tether) is the stablecoin with the highest trading volume and liquidity in the market. According to Transak, using data from DeFiLlama, the token represented approximately 59% of the global stablecoin supply in June 2026, with around $187 billion in circulation. Pegged to the U.S. dollar, it aims to maintain a value of 1 USDT = $1.
Its widespread adoption makes it a common choice for trading, cross-border payments, transfers between exchanges, and liquidity management.
Because USDT is available across a large number of platforms and blockchain networks, it has become one of the leading stablecoins for moving value throughout the digital asset ecosystem.
USDC: Compliance and Infrastructure for Businesses
USDC (USD Coin) is also pegged to the U.S. dollar, but it has gained traction for its focus on transparency and regulatory compliance. Circle, the issuer, publishes monthly reserve reports with attestations from an accounting firm and maintains reserves backed by cash and short-term U.S. Treasury securities.
Like USDT, USDC maintains a 1 USDC = $1 peg. It is widely used for corporate payments, financial settlement, business infrastructure, and DeFi protocols that prioritize auditability.
EURC: A Stablecoin for Euro-Denominated Transactions
EURC is a stablecoin pegged to the euro, aiming to maintain a value of 1 EURC = €1. Like USDC, it was developed by Circle to represent a fiat currency on blockchain networks, enabling euros to move more efficiently within the digital asset ecosystem.
The token is used for cross-border payments, financial settlement, international trade, and decentralized finance (DeFi) applications. For businesses operating in Europe or conducting euro-denominated transactions, EURC provides a way to move funds on blockchain while maintaining exposure to the euro.
BRZ: A Stablecoin Pegged to the Brazilian Real
BRZ is a stablecoin developed by Transfero in 2019 to represent the Brazilian real on blockchain networks, maintaining a value of 1 BRZ = R$1. As one of the first stablecoins pegged to the Brazilian real, it enables businesses and users to move BRL digitally within the digital asset ecosystem.
Unlike dollar- or euro-pegged stablecoins, BRZ is designed for financial flows denominated in Brazilian reais, reducing the need for foreign exchange conversions for businesses operating in the Brazilian market.
The token is available on multiple blockchain networks and can be used for payments, financial settlement, digital asset trading, and decentralized finance (DeFi) applications.
Which Stablecoin Should You Choose?
The right stablecoin depends primarily on the currency used by the business, the markets it operates in, and the requirements of each financial flow.
USDT is widely used by businesses and users looking for high liquidity, broad exchange availability, and flexibility for trading digital assets or making cross-border transfers.
USDC is often adopted by businesses that prioritize regulatory compliance, integration with financial infrastructure, and corporate payments.
EURC is designed for euro-denominated transactions, making it an option for businesses serving customers or suppliers in the European Union or moving funds in euros.
BRZ is designed for BRL-denominated operations, allowing businesses to use blockchain for payments, financial settlement, and digital asset trading while maintaining exposure to the Brazilian real.
Comparing the Leading Stablecoins
Stablecoin | Reference Currency | Primary Use | Other Uses |
USDT | U.S. dollar | Global liquidity | Trading, payments, and asset trading |
USDC | U.S. dollar | Financial infrastructure and corporate payments | Payments, DeFi, and institutional settlement |
EURC | Euro | Euro-denominated operations | Cross-border payments, European trade, and DeFi |
BRZ | Brazilian real | BRL-denominated operations | Payments, financial settlement, asset trading, and real-to-blockchain integration |
Using Multiple Stablecoins Together
Stablecoins are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Businesses operating across different markets often use multiple stablecoins to meet the requirements of different financial flows.
For example, a Brazilian company might use BRZ for BRL-denominated operations, USDC for dollar payments, EURC for euro-denominated transactions, and USDT when exchange liquidity is the priority.
The right combination depends on the currency used for each transaction, the markets served, and the financial infrastructure supporting the business.
How Do You Choose the Right Stablecoin?
USDT, USDC, EURC, and BRZ share the same fundamental goal: providing a stable digital asset through blockchain technology. The main differences lie in their reference currencies and the use cases they are designed to support.
When choosing a stablecoin, businesses should consider the currency used in their operations, the markets they serve, liquidity requirements, and the financial infrastructure involved.
In many cases, using multiple stablecoins can be the most efficient strategy for supporting different types of financial flows.
