Middn
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usdc · base

Settled in dollars, on-chain.

Every Middn trade settles in USDC — a fully-reserved digital dollar — on Base, Coinbase's low-cost Ethereum layer-2. Local money in, a dollar-stable asset out, for cents and in seconds.

1:1 USD reserves Native USDC on Base ~$0.01 settlement Non-custodial vaults
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Two choices, one settlement layer

the asset · the network

USDC

Circle · USD stablecoin

A digital dollar that doesn't swing in value. One USDC is designed to always be redeemable for one US dollar — so the moment a trade settles, value is locked in, not exposed to crypto volatility.

Fully reserved — backed 1:1 by cash and short-dated US Treasuries held in regulated institutions.

Independently attested — reserves are published in regular third-party attestations.

Redeemable — issued and redeemed 1:1 for dollars by Circle, the regulated issuer.

Native on Base — Circle issues USDC directly on Base, so there's no bridged-token risk.

Base

Coinbase · Ethereum L2

An Ethereum layer-2 incubated by Coinbase. It batches transactions and settles them back to Ethereum — keeping Ethereum-grade security while making each transfer fast and nearly free.

Low cost — settlement transactions cost cents, not dollars — so 0% platform fees stay realistic.

Fast finality — ~2-second blocks mean escrow funding and release feel instant.

Ethereum security — as an OP-Stack rollup, Base inherits Ethereum's settlement guarantees.

Open & verifiable — every vault, deposit and release is a public on-chain transaction anyone can audit.

~$0.01per settlementTypical Base transaction cost to fund or release a vault.
~2sblock timeHow fast an on-chain action confirms on Base.
1:1USD backingEach USDC is reserved against one dollar.
100%on-chainEscrow funds live in a contract, never on Middn's books.

How a settlement actually happens

fiat in · USDC out
1

Seller funds the vault

The seller deposits USDC into a fresh escrow vault. The amount is now locked — neither side can walk off with it.

on base
2

Buyer pays in local money

The buyer sends fiat through their normal app — SEPA, PIX, UPI, M-Pesa — directly to the seller.

off-chain
3

Both confirm

The seller confirms the money arrived; the buyer confirms they sent it. The vault stays locked until they agree.

on base
4

Vault releases USDC

The contract releases the locked USDC to the buyer — a single, public, ~$0.01 transaction on Base.

on base
5

Settled in dollars

The buyer holds a stable, dollar-pegged asset; the seller got paid locally. If there's ever a dispute, the vault freezes for review.

on base

Why Base, not the alternatives

cost · speed · settlement
RailCost / transferSpeedSettlement
USDC on Base
~$0.01
~2 seconds
Final, public, programmable escrow
USDC on Ethereum L1
$1–20+
~12 seconds
Same asset, far higher gas cost
Bank wire
$15–50
1–5 days
No programmable escrow, reversible
Card / PayPal
2–4%
minutes
Chargeback risk for the seller
non-custodial escrow

Your USDC sits in a vault, never on our balance sheet.

When a seller funds a trade, the USDC moves into an escrow vault on Base — a smart contract, not a Middn account. Middn can't spend it, move it, or freeze it for any reason other than the dispute rules both sides agreed to.

Funds locked the moment a trade opens
Released only when both parties confirm
Every deposit & release is public on Base
No vault, no deal — the rule that protects both sides

Common questions

usdc · base · settlement
Do I need to understand crypto to use Middn?
No. You pay and get paid with the local methods you already use. USDC and Base are the rails working underneath — Middn handles the on-chain part so the experience feels like any payment app.
Why settle in USDC instead of regular crypto?
Stability. Bitcoin or ether can move 5% while a trade is in flight. USDC is designed to hold a steady $1 value, so the amount agreed at the start is the amount settled at the end — no volatility risk for either side.
What does Base cost me?
Funding or releasing a vault on Base typically costs around a cent in network fees. That low cost is exactly what lets Middn run with 0% platform fees — there's no expensive rail to subsidise.
Is my money ever held by Middn?
No. USDC in escrow lives in a vault smart contract on Base, not in a Middn account. We can't spend or move it — it's released by the contract's rules when both sides confirm the trade.
Can I move my USDC off Middn?
Yes. USDC on Base is a standard, portable asset. Once a trade settles, it's yours — hold it, send it to any Base-compatible wallet, or redeem it back to dollars through Circle and supported exchanges.
Will Middn support other chains or stablecoins?
Middn starts USDC-first on Base because that combination gives the best mix of stability, cost and security today. Additional networks and assets can be added over time as demand and safety justify it.
Note. USDC is issued by Circle; Base is an Ethereum layer-2 associated with Coinbase. Middn is independent and not endorsed by either. Network fees and confirmation times are approximate and vary with conditions. This page explains how Middn intends to use these technologies and is not financial, legal, or tax advice. Digital assets carry risk; only transact what you can afford.

Dollar-stable settlement,
for cents, in seconds.

See how a real trade locks USDC in escrow on Base — start to settled.

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