Y Combinator to Offer USDC Funding to All Portfolio Startups Starting Spring 2026

Y Combinator will allow startups to receive investments in stablecoins beginning with its Spring 2026 batch, The Block reported on Feb. 3. Any YC-backed company, not only crypto-native ventures, can opt for stablecoin payouts, said Nemil Dalal, Y Combinator's visiting partner focused on crypto. The accelerator plans to distribute funding in USDC over Ethereum, Base and Solana. YC said the move follows what it described as a regulatory inflection point in the U.S. after passage of the GENIUS Act, noting stablecoin transfers are faster and cheaper than traditional fiat channels, particularly for founders operating across borders.