Shopify has launched early access to USDC stablecoin payments on Base, Coinbase's Ethereum layer-2 network, allowing merchants to accept USDC from customers globally using their existing payment and order fulfillment systems without needing new integrations or gateways.
This new feature enables customers to pay with USDC from hundreds of supported crypto wallets, including guest checkout and Shop Pay, while merchants receive payouts in their local currency by default with no foreign transaction or exchange fees, or they can opt to claim USDC directly into their wallets.
The initiative is a collaboration between Shopify, Coinbase, and Stripe, leveraging Base for its fast, affordable, and secure transactions, aiming to streamline global commerce with crypto-native infrastructure. Shopify CEO Tobi Lutke highlighted that stablecoins like USDC provide stability without value fluctuation, fast borderless transactions, and effortless checkout experiences, making them a natural way to transact on the internet.
Shopify plans to expand USDC payments broadly to all merchants later in 2025, with potential buyer incentives such as 1% cashback in local currency payouts on USDC transactions in the future. However, the exclusive support for Base has drawn some criticism from the crypto community, with calls for broader blockchain interoperability to increase access and reduce friction.
This move marks one of the most significant deployments of stablecoins in real-world commerce, signaling a shift toward blockchain-based payment rails in mainstream retail and opening global market access for merchants.
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