USYCvsPYUSD
Circle USYC vs PayPal USD — side-by-side comparison of supply, chains, backing, and peg data.
Side-by-side
USYC — Circle USYC
PYUSD — PayPal USD
30-day peg stability dotted line = target · both charts share one scale
What the last 30 days show
Over the last 30 days USYC supply moved -3.6% and PYUSD -2.4% — PYUSD grew faster. PYUSD held the tighter band: worst deviation 5 bps against 1328 bps.
Key differences
- USYC and PYUSD are similar in size — within 10% of each other by USD-equivalent value.
- USYC ranks #8 while PYUSD ranks #9 among all tracked stablecoins.
- Both are pegged to the same currency (USD), so they compete directly for the same use cases.
- Both are fiat-backed stablecoins, so the mechanism is not what separates them.
- Reserves differ — USYC holds tokenized us treasuries, PYUSD holds cash & t-bills (paypal).
- PYUSD is deployed on 19 chains — much broader coverage than USYC's 2.
- Primary chain differs — most USYC supply lives on BSC, while most PYUSD supply is on Ethereum.
Full comparison table
| Metric | USYC | PYUSD |
|---|---|---|
| USD circulation value | $3.00B | $2.78B |
| Rank (by USD value) | #8 | #9 |
| Peg | USD | USD |
| Mechanism | fiat-backed | fiat-backed |
| Backing | Tokenized US Treasuries | Cash & T-bills (PayPal) |
| Chains deployed | 2 | 19 |
| Primary chain | BSC | Ethereum |
| Issuer | Circle | Paxos Trust Company (for PayPal) |
| CoinGecko | View → | View → |
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between USYC and PYUSD?
Both track USD, so they compete for the same use cases. USYC holds tokenized us treasuries; PYUSD holds cash & t-bills (paypal). USYC ranks #8 by USD value and PYUSD ranks #9.
Which is bigger, USYC or PYUSD?
USYC is larger, with $3.00B in circulation vs $2.78B for PYUSD. That's roughly 1.1× the size.
Is USYC safer than PYUSD?
Neither is inherently safer. Safety turns on reserve composition, issuer transparency, redemption rights and regulatory oversight — none of which this page audits. Both use a fiat-backed model, so the difference sits in the issuer and the reserves rather than the design. Read each issuer's most recent reserve attestation before choosing.
Can I convert between USYC and PYUSD?
Yes. USYC and PYUSD both trade on major centralized and decentralized exchanges. Since both track USD, the exchange rate is typically very close to 1:1. Direct swap protocols on Ethereum, Solana, and other chains offer the tightest spreads.
Should I choose USYC or PYUSD?
The right choice depends on your use case. Consider: which chain do you need? USYC is available on 2 chains and PYUSD on 19. What backing do you prefer? What's your integration surface (exchanges, DeFi protocols, payment providers)? Both have deep liquidity, so market cap alone shouldn't decide it.