Circle Internet Financial has announced the native availability of USD Coin (USDC) on the NEAR Protocol, marking a significant development for developers and users who can now leverage NEAR's high-performance blockchain for building applications. This move allows for the use of native USDC, which is issued by Circle and redeemable 1:1 for US dollars, as opposed to the bridged version (USDC.e) from Ethereum that lacks compatibility with Circle's services. The NEAR Protocol, known for its user-friendly onboarding and sharding technology, facilitates fast and low-cost transactions. Native USDC on NEAR can be accessed via Circle Account and APIs, opening opportunities for global payments, trading, and digital savings without traditional banking. The NEAR Foundation plans to assist in migrating liquidity from bridged to native USDC, while developers and businesses are encouraged to explore new use cases and conversion options through Circle's resources.