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Documentation Index

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://developers.circle.com/llms.txt

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Use dedicated SDKs for crosschain transfersBridge Kit and Unified Balance Kit let you move USDC across blockchains without low-level protocol work. Both support multiple blockchains and wallet providers.

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What you can build

Move USDC across chains securely and efficiently with tools designed for speed, capital efficiency, and composability:
  • Protocol-level integration: Build with CCTP, Circle’s permissionless protocol that burns and mints native USDC across supported blockchains.
  • Chain-free UX: A single Gateway balance that works seamlessly across chains, enabling instant access to liquidity and a simplified experience for users.
  • Agentic commerce: Use Gateway Nanopayments to enable gas-free USDC payments down to $0.000001, purpose-built for AI agents, usage-based billing, and high-frequency sub-cent transactions.

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Choose your approach

Each product is designed for different crosschain use cases. Pick the approach that matches your application needs.

CCTP

Permissionless burn-and-mint protocol for native USDC transfers with fast and standard options.

Gateway

Unified USDC balance instantly accessible across supported chains. No manual bridging required.

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When to use each product

Understanding which tool fits your use case helps you build the right crosschain experience:
CCTP is best when you need fine-grained control over crosschain transfers or want to build custom composable flows. It’s a permissionless protocol that enables native USDC transfers through burn-and-mint mechanics. Use CCTP when you need to integrate crosschain transfers at the smart contract level, require Fast Transfer for speed-sensitive use cases, or want to trigger automated actions post-transfer using Hooks.
Gateway is designed for applications where users need instant access to their USDC across multiple chains without manual bridging. It’s perfect for multichain apps, DEXs with chain abstraction, or any platform where users should see and spend one unified balance regardless of which chain they’re on. Gateway eliminates the need for liquidity management across chains.
Nanopayments extends Gateway with batched settlement to enable gas-free USDC payments at sub-cent scale. Use it when your application involves AI agents paying for resources, per-request billing, machine-to-machine commerce, or any scenario where per-transaction gas costs would exceed the payment value.

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