USDC vs RLUSD: which stablecoin should you invoice in?

Two dollar-stable options work well here: USDC on Stellar and RLUSD on the XRP Ledger. Both are pegged 1:1 to the dollar, both settle in seconds for tiny fees, and both work in Brionic. So which one? Here is the practical version.

The short answer

They're more alike than not. Pick based on the network your customers already use: clients on the XRP Ledger will find RLUSD smoother; clients on Stellar will prefer USDC. Genuinely unsure? Turn on both and let the customer choose at checkout.

Side by side

• Network. USDC rides Stellar; RLUSD rides the XRP Ledger. Both settle in 3 to 5 seconds and cost a fraction of a cent.
• Issuer. USDC comes from Circle, RLUSD from Ripple. Both are dollar-backed.
• Payment matching. USDC payments match on a Stellar memo; RLUSD payments match on an XRP Ledger destination tag. Brionic handles either one for you.
• Trust lines. Both are issued tokens, so a holding wallet needs a one-time trust line, to Circle's issuer for USDC, to Ripple's for RLUSD. It's a small, once-per-wallet setup.
• Wallet support. USDC has very broad support across Stellar. RLUSD is newer but catching up fast across XRPL wallets and exchanges.

When to pick USDC

USDC is the most widely held stablecoin, so if you can't guess what your customers use, USDC on Stellar has the broadest reach.

When to pick RLUSD

If your customers are already in the XRP Ledger world, or you take XRP, adding RLUSD lets them pay in dollars on the network they're already on, with nothing to bridge or convert. Not many invoicing tools take RLUSD yet, either.

Why not both?

You can run XRP, XLM, USDC, and RLUSD together and let each customer choose at checkout. Everything reconciles on its own, so more options cost you nothing operationally.

New to stablecoin invoicing? Start with the guide on accepting RLUSD payments, then create your account. Flat monthly pricing, and every payment is yours to keep.