In his foreword to the "State of the USDC Economy" report, Jeremy Allaire, Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Circle, reflects on the progress and future potential of digital currencies like USD Coin (USDC) in transforming global finance. Over the past decade, Circle has worked toward integrating traditional money into the internet as digital currency, aiming for a world of seamless value exchange similar to the internet's impact on information exchange. Despite the early industry's technological and regulatory challenges, USDC has emerged as a mainstream, regulated digital currency, facilitating economic activities at scale and reaching unbanked markets. As digital currencies move from speculative assets to utility-driven financial tools, traditional and new financial players are increasingly enabling USDC payments, reflecting its potential to capture a significant portion of the massive payments industry revenue. The transition to a more advanced public blockchain infrastructure is underway, enhancing transaction speed, security, and cost-effectiveness. Meanwhile, global policymakers are focusing on harmonized regulations for digital currencies. This shift aligns with Circle's vision of building a new global economic system on an open, internet-native foundation, fostering responsible financial innovation and broader economic opportunities.