, Compound
and dYdX
and helped spearhead
$USDC in the DeFi ecosystem, which is still the most widely used stablecoin in the sector.
In its new iteration, the initiative will allocate capital across both established and emerging protocols, aiming to ensure users can access stable yields and efficient markets.
While Coinbase has not disclosed the size of the fund or specific amounts for each deployment, a company spokesperson told CoinDesk it will test placements across multiple networks before scaling further. Currently, the fund provides capital in $USDC and EURC, Circle's euro-pegged stablecoin, the company added.
Coinbase's move comes as the DeFi sector's growth is accelerating amid red-hot crypto markets and easing regulatory headwinds in the U.S. There are almost $200 billion of assets held across DeFi protocols collectively, nearly doubling since April but still below its 2021 peak, DefiLlama data shows.
Read more: Decentralized Finance and Tokenization Growth Still Disappoints: JPMorgan