USDC
USD Coin
- Non-yield-bearing design
- 88 tracked chain deployments
- Deloitte reserve attestations
USD Coin (USDC) vs Dai (DAI)
USD Coin and Dai are two widely followed stablecoins. Both target the US Dollar. USDC is centralized (cefi), while DAI is cefi-dependent. USDC uses a real-world-asset-backed design, while DAI uses a crypto-backed design. Neither token is primarily a yield-bearing wrapper, so the comparison centers on collateral, issuer controls, liquidity, and peg behavior. This static comparison highlights structural differences before you open the live Pharos compare tool.
Comparison brief
USDC has 88 tracked deployments, while DAI has 32. USDC is rwa, while DAI is crypto. Use the rows below to separate headline market share from the mechanics that matter during stress: redemption path, reserve signal, blacklistability, and venue depth.
DAI
Dai
- Non-yield-bearing design
- 32 tracked chain deployments
- No linked proof-of-reserves provider
At a glance
Static structural differences between the two stablecoins before you switch to the live comparison tool.
| Metric | USDC | DAI |
|---|---|---|
| Safety Score (as of 2026-10-24) | A+ 87/100 | B 71/100 |
| Governance | Centralized (CeFi) | CeFi-Dependent |
| Backing | RWA | Crypto |
| Peg target | US Dollar | US Dollar |
| Yield-bearing | No | No |
| Governance + backing lens | Centralized (CeFi) / RWA | CeFi-Dependent / Crypto |
| Blacklist controls | Issuer blacklist controls | Upstream freeze exposure |
| Reserve signal | Deloitte attestations | USDC |
| Tracked chains | 88 deployments | 32 deployments |
Source: checked-in StablecoinMeta profile fields in the current Pharos build. Static deployment counts and reserve-provider labels are structural context; open the live detail and compare tools for current market, peg, liquidity, and reserve freshness.
Research links
Related comparisons
USDC vs DAI FAQ
What is the main difference between USDC and DAI?
USD Coin (USDC) and Dai (DAI) differ structurally: USDC is centralized (cefi) and rwa, while DAI is cefi-dependent and crypto.
Which is safer: USDC or DAI?
In the Pharos Safety Score release of 2026-10-24, USDC held an A+ Safety Score grade (87/100) and DAI held a B Safety Score grade (71/100). Safety is not decided by ticker alone. Use this static page for the structural comparison, then open the live USDC vs DAI compare tool and Safety Scores page for current V10 Backing, Exit, and Economic Control pillars plus peg behavior, dependency exposure, evidence quality, and structural caps.
Where can I compare current USDC and DAI data?
Open the live USDC vs DAI comparison from this page to see current peg behavior, liquidity, flows, and Safety Scores. Use this brief to understand the structural differences, then check each coin's latest evidence before making a decision.