Launched in late 2018, USDC is designed to maintain a stable value unlike other typically volatile cryptocurrencies. But even stablecoins such as USDC can still be prone to mild changes in price.

USDC’s price spiked to an all-time high of $1.19 in May 2019, and noted an all-time low of $0.891848 in May 2021. Changes to supply and demand are the main reason stablecoins move off their $1 peg. During bullish market cycles, demand for stable value assets like USDC drops. That causes the price of USDC and other U.S. dollar-backed stablecoins to fall beneath one dollar. Overall, though, USD coin has maintained long periods of stability at $1.