To swap BTC to USDC, choose BTC on Bitcoin as “from” and USDC on Ethereum, Solana or Base as “to”, enter your address on that network and send BTC from your Bitcoin wallet. On October 23, 2026, 0.012 BTC (about $978) became about $974-975 of USDC on Ethereum or Solana in about 28 minutes.
Key Takeaways
- Route: native BTC to USDC in one flow, no exchange account.
- Time: about 28 minutes to Ethereum or Solana.
- Fees: about $3.6 route fees plus about $0.6 Bitcoin fee on $978.
- Taxes: a swap to a stablecoin can be a taxable sale.
Live Quotes: 0.012 BTC to USDC
| Route | Value in | You receive (value) | Route fees | Source gas | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BTC → USDC on Ethereum | $978.19 | $974.08 | $3.62 | $0.59 | about 29 min |
| BTC → USDC on Base | $978.19 | $969.14 | $3.62 | $0.59 | about 86 min |
| BTC → USDC on Solana | $978.19 | $974.76 | $3.62 | $0.59 | about 28 min |
Quotes are live LI.FI routes requested on October 23, 2026, before the 0.7% Step Exchange service fee; they change every minute, and the widget shows the current one before you sign.
Why Swap BTC to USDC?
- Lock in a dollar value without selling on an exchange.
- Use the value on-chain: pay, lend or swap into other tokens on Ethereum, Solana or Base.
- Move between networks cheaply: USDC is native on many chains.
USDC is issued by Circle and is redeemable 1:1 for US dollars through Circle’s partners. Comparison with USDT: USDC to USDT.
Which Network to Receive USDC On
| Network | Good for | Time in our test |
|---|---|---|
| Ethereum | DeFi, large amounts | about 28 min |
| Solana | cheap, fast transfers and swaps | about 28 min |
| Base | Coinbase ecosystem, low gas | about 86 min (slower route) |
The Bitcoin side decides most of the time; a slower destination route usually means less liquidity at that moment, so compare quotes in the widget.
Step by Step
- Start the swap: from BTC on Bitcoin, to USDC on your network.
- Enter the address on that network.
- Send BTC from your Bitcoin wallet, exact amount, to the deposit address shown.
- Wait for confirmations; track the status until USDC arrives.
Gem Wallet holds native BTC and USDC on Ethereum, Solana and Base in one self-custodial app.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Sending a different BTC amount than the route expects.
- Wrong network address for USDC.
- Forgetting gas on the destination network for your next move.
Related: swap USDC to BTC, swap BTC to USDT, usdc to usdt. More pairs on the swap hub.
