How to Donate USDC to Charity on Ethereum
USDC is a dollar-backed stablecoin issued natively on dozens of blockchains. We accept it on Ethereum only, and because our address works on every Ethereum-style network, choosing that network yourself is the one step that matters most.
By Global Relief Group · Last updated:
Ethereum only
Choose Ethereum (ERC-20). USDC on Base, Solana, Polygon, Arbitrum or BNB Smart Chain can’t be credited.
Your app won’t stop you
Our 0x address is valid on every EVM network, so a wrong-network USDC send goes through. Choosing the network is up to you.
Gas is paid in ETH
From your own wallet you need a little ETH to send USDC. From an exchange, you pay its withdrawal fee instead.
Ethereum (ERC-20) only
USDC is issued by Circle and is designed to be redeemable one-for-one for US dollars (directly through Circle for businesses, or through exchanges), backed by cash and cash-equivalent reserves. Circle issues it natively on dozens of networks, including Ethereum, Base, Solana, Polygon, Arbitrum and Avalanche. We accept it on Ethereum only, at our 0x address.
- BNB Smart Chain: Circle doesn’t issue USDC there. USDC on BNB Smart Chain is a bridged token, not Circle’s own.
- Bridged USDC elsewhere, such as “USDC.e” on some networks: Circle describes bridged USDC as unofficial and not issued or redeemable by Circle.
- TRON: Circle stopped issuing USDC on TRON in 2024. Never send USDC to our
Taddress, which is for USDT and TRX.
Why the network matters so much for USDC
Our USDC address is the same 0x address we use for ETH and BNB. Ethereum, BNB Smart Chain, Base, Polygon, Arbitrum and the other EVM networks all accept that address format, so if you choose any of them, your exchange or wallet will send the USDC without complaint. It arrives at our address on that network, where we can’t credit it to your donation, and recovery isn’t guaranteed.
Solana uses a different address format, so most apps will reject our address if you pick Solana. That’s a useful warning, but don’t rely on your app to catch the EVM networks: it can’t.
Choosing Ethereum on your exchange
- Coinbase: USDC can be sent on more than one network. On the send preview screen, check the Network line and change it to Ethereum if it shows anything else. Don’t send to us by email or phone number: those transfers stay inside Coinbase.
- Kraken: offers USDC on Ethereum, Arbitrum One, Avalanche, Base, Ink, Optimism, Polygon, Solana and Sui. Choose Ethereum.
- Binance: choose the network labelled ERC20 (Ethereum). Binance itself advises choosing the network the receiving side supports, not the cheapest one.
Make sure it’s real USDC
Look-alike tokens named USDC are used in scams, especially “address poisoning”, where a worthless token is sent from an address resembling one you’ve used. Real USDC on Ethereum has one contract address, published by Circle:
0xA0b86991c6218b36c1d19D4a2e9Eb0cE3606eB48
USDC bought on a major exchange is real. On Etherscan, check the token transfer line of your transaction: it should show the USDC contract above, our address and the amount. The main “To” field usually shows the USDC contract, or another contract if you sent from an exchange or a smart-contract wallet.
Fees
Sending USDC on Ethereum costs gas, paid in ETH, not USDC. A token transfer uses more gas than a plain ETH transfer (21,000 gas), typically around 50,000. From your own wallet, keep a little ETH alongside your USDC; your wallet shows the estimate before you confirm. From an exchange, you pay the exchange’s USDC withdrawal fee and don’t need ETH.
Ethereum fees are usually higher than on networks like Base or Solana, which is why apps sometimes suggest those. For a donation to us, Ethereum is still the only network that will arrive where we can credit it.
Step by step
- Choose your cause and USDC on our donation screen, enter the amount and copy our
0xaddress. - Send or withdraw USDC and paste the address. Paste rather than type: our address uses mixed upper and lower case as a checksum.
- Set the network to Ethereum (ERC-20). Check it on the final review screen, not just the first one.
- Confirm, then copy the transaction hash (0x followed by 64 characters).
- Submit it on our confirmation step, with an email if you’d like a receipt.
Tax: US donors
The IRS counts stablecoins such as USDC as digital assets, so a USDC gift is a donation of property, not cash. Its rules for donating a digital asset are:
- Held more than a year: your deduction is generally the fair market value on the day you give it.
- Held a year or less: it is generally the lower of what you paid and the fair market value.
- Claiming more than $5,000 for crypto gifts in a year (similar gifts are added together) generally needs a qualified appraisal, and the charity signs Section B of your Form 8283.
Your receipt from Global Relief Group (EIN 27-3281810) records the coin and quantity received. This is general information, not tax advice: check with a qualified tax adviser. Our US crypto donation tax guide goes into more detail.
Common questions
Coinbase suggests sending USDC on another network. Is that OK?
Not for a donation to us. Change the network to Ethereum on the send preview. USDC sent on Base, Solana, Polygon or another network can’t be credited.
Can I send USDC on BNB Smart Chain (BEP-20)?
No. USDC on BNB Smart Chain isn’t issued by Circle, and it would arrive on a network we don’t credit for USDC.
Why do I need ETH to send USDC?
Every Ethereum transaction pays gas in ETH, including token transfers. Exchanges handle this for you and charge a withdrawal fee instead.
Is USDC or USDT better for donating?
Both are designed to stay close to one US dollar. Choose whichever you hold on the network we accept: USDC on Ethereum, or USDT on TRON. From an exchange, an Ethereum withdrawal usually costs more than a TRON one; from your own wallet it depends on current gas. Check the fee shown before you confirm.
Can I send USDC to your TRON address?
No. Our T address is for USDT and TRX on TRON only, and USDC is no longer issued on TRON.