Shopify Adds USDC Payments to Checkout Ecosystem

Shopify has announced the integration of USDC payments across its Checkout ecosystem, marking a significant step in the adoption of stablecoins in mainstream retail. This new feature, developed in partnership with Coinbase, will allow consumers to pay with USDC via Shopify Payments and Shop Pay, with the option to receive payouts in local fiat currency or retain USDC directly.

The integration is powered by a new smart contract-based payment protocol designed specifically for e-commerce. This system enables customers to pay in Circle’s stablecoin USDC, while merchants receive payouts in local fiat currency by default. Stripe supported the backend integration, helping Shopify abstract away the complexity of crypto payments from the merchant experience. Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke noted that the platform will support buyer incentives such as 1% cashback on USDC transactions in the future.

Lütke emphasized the transparency of the system for merchants, stating that they will receive normal local currency payouts unless they choose to keep the funds as USDC. This move signals a broader shift toward blockchain-based payment rails in mainstream retail, as stablecoins like USDC gain traction for their stability and ease of use in transactions.

Despite the excitement surrounding the announcement, Shopify’s decision to support USDC exclusively on Base, an Ethereum layer-2 network developed by Coinbase, drew criticism from some crypto infrastructure leaders. Mert Mumtaz, CEO of Solana-based development firm Helius, questioned the logic of restricting access to a single chain, arguing that supporting multiple blockchains would increase access, reduce friction, and enable greater participation in decentralized finance.

Mumtaz’s comments reflect a recurring tension in the digital payments ecosystem, where platforms are increasingly expected to adopt chain-agnostic strategies. Developers argue that supporting multiple blockchains would enhance the composability of stablecoins like USDC across networks, fostering greater interoperability and participation in the decentralized finance ecosystem.