Circle’s new Paymaster product enhances blockchain transactions by enabling USDC-based gas fee payments on Arbitrum and Base.
Circle, the issuer of the second-largest stablecoin USDC $1.00 24h volatility: 0.0% Market cap: $71.98 B Vol. 24h: $17.36 B , has introduced a product called Paymaster to enhance user experience on blockchain networks. Announced on January 23, Paymaster enables users to pay transaction fees on Arbitrum and Base using USDC instead of the native cryptocurrency, ether ETH $4 274 24h volatility: 2.1% Market cap: $516.55 B Vol. 24h: $35.85 B .
Traditionally, blockchain transactions require gas fees to be paid in a network’s native token, such as ETH for Ethereum. This often presents challenges for users who don’t hold native tokens, creating friction in managing multiple cryptocurrencies across various chains. For institutions, this requirement can raise regulatory uncertainties and complicate accounting. Paymaster aims to eliminate these obstacles by seamlessly managing gas fees on behalf of users.
With Paymaster, users pay a 10% surcharge on gas fees when using USDC. For instance, a $0.01 gas fee would amount to $0.011 under the Paymaster model. However, to encourage adoption, Circle has waived this fee until June 30, 2025, giving users ample time to experience the benefits at no extra cost.
Paymaster Streamlining Transactions
Paymaster simplifies the process of paying gas fees with USDC, removing the need for native tokens entirely. The three-step workflow begins with a user initiating a transaction, followed by Paymaster receiving the USDC payment and paying validators in the native token. Finally, the recipient receives the USDC seamlessly.
For developers, Paymaster offers a permissionless and composable solution compatible with any ERC-4337 wallet. The integration process is designed to be fast and straightforward, enabling developers to focus on creating robust applications without worrying about complex gas fee logistics.
By enabling seamless transactions using only USDC, Circle addresses one of the major pain points of on-chain activity.
What’s Next for Circle?
Paymaster is currently live on Arbitrum and Base, but Circle has ambitious plans to extend its reach. The company aims to support additional blockchains, including Ethereum, Solana, and Polygon PoS, in the coming months. Future updates will also include support for externally owned accounts (EOAs) following Ethereum’s Pectra upgrade and cross-chain gas payment functionality using Circle’s Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol (CCTP).
Beyond Paymaster, Circle has been actively expanding its footprint in the crypto sector. Recent moves include acquiring tokenized asset issuer Hashnote and partnering with Binance to increase USDC’s utility on the platform.
Circle is cementing its position as a leader in the crypto space. USDC is now available in over 180 countries and boasts a 78% year-over-year rise in circulation in 2024. The token currently boasts $51.66 billion in market cap, doubled in the past year.
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