75 Essential DeFi Metrics for Stablecoins in 2026

In 2026, the total stablecoin market capitalization has surged to $311 billion, underscoring the pivotal role of stablecoins like USDC and DAI in powering DeFi ecosystems through enhanced liquidity and yield opportunities.

This growth reflects increased adoption in yield farming, liquidity pools, and collateralized lending, driven by performance indicators from sources like DeFi Llama and Messari reports.

This article explores 75 essential DeFi metrics, focusing on crucial data points for USDC and DAI, to help investors optimize strategies amid evolving market dynamics.

Key Takeaways

• In 2026, stablecoin market cap hits $311 billion, with USDC at $76.4 billion (24.6% share) and DAI at $4.7 billion, per Messari reports.
• Yield farming APYs for USDC average 4-7% on platforms like Aave and Jito (TVL $1.624B), while DAI offers 4% on Sky Lending (TVL $4.6B).
• Liquidity pool TVLs surge, with Ethena at $3.8B for USDC and Pendle peaking at $8.27B for DAI, driving daily volumes to $298.3B.
• Collateral ratios ensure stability: USDC maintains 1:1 USD backing, DAI over-collateralized at 150%+ with ETH/WBTC/USDC baskets.
• Transaction trends show 57.5M weekly stablecoin transfers, up with 4.08M daily active addresses, highlighting DeFi growth.

1. USDC yield farming APY on Aave V3 Syrup ranges from 4-7% with a TVL of $3.434 billion.
2. DAI-USDC yield farming APY on Uniswap V3 (Ethereum) stands at 1.65%.
3. On Maple Finance, USDC yield farming APY reaches 5.13% with a TVL of $2.6 billion.
4. Another Maple Finance pool offers USDC yield farming APY of 5.08% with a TVL of $1.6 billion.
5. Sky Lending (sUSDS) provides DAI yield farming APY at 4.00% with a TVL of $4.6 billion.
6. Merkl features USDC yield farming APY of 0.08% with a TVL of $1.6 billion.
7. Jito Liquid Staking delivers USDC LEND yield farming APY at 5.96% with a TVL of $1.624 billion.
8. Binance Staked SOL gives USDC LEND yield farming APY of 5.44% with a TVL of $1.236 billion.
9. ETH/USDC yield farming APY on Uniswap varies between 5-20%.
10. Stablecoins in DeFi show yield farming APY ranging from 3-10%.
11. Conservative stablecoin yield farming APY falls between 4-12%.
12. Curve offers USDC yield farming APY from 5-20% with a TVL of $2.73 billion.
13. Pendle (Ethena sUSDe pools) peaks DAI yield farming APY at 14.5% with a TVL of $8.27 billion.
14. Aave provides USDC yield farming APY of 4-7%.
15. Stablecoin yield farming APY can exceed 12% at peak levels.
16. Orca DEX lists SOL-USDC yield farming APY at 8.24% with a TVL of $229,707.
17. Velodrome V2 shows USDC-USDC yield farming APY of 0.63% with a TVL of $42,731.
18. Compound adjusts stablecoin yield farming APY based on supply and demand.
19. Ethena (sUSDE) offers USDC yield farming APY at 4.90% with a TVL of $3.8 billion.
20. Uniswap V3 averages DAI yield farming APY over 30 days at 0.77%.
21. Yearn Finance aggregates stablecoin yield farming APY, varying by vault.
22. Orca projects USDC yield farming APY to decline below 6.59% in 4 weeks.
23. Morpho varies DAI yield farming APY based on vault caps.
24. Pendle allows USDC yield farming APY up to 14.5%.
25. CeFi platforms offer general stablecoin yield farming APY from 2-6%.

26. Aave V3 holds USDC liquidity pool TVL at $3.434 billion.
27. Sky Lending maintains DAI liquidity pool TVL at $4.6 billion.
28. Maple Finance supports USDC liquidity pool TVL of $2.6 billion.
29. Ethena features USDC liquidity pool TVL at $3.8 billion.
30. Overall stablecoin liquidity TVL reaches $311 billion.
31. Jito manages USDC liquidity pool TVL of $1.624 billion.
32. Curve experiences outflows in DAI liquidity pool TVL during early 2026.
33. Merkl sustains USDC liquidity pool TVL at $1.6 billion.
34. Stablecoin liquidity pools record daily transaction volume of $298.3 billion.
35. Curve holds USDC liquidity pool TVL at $2.73 billion.
36. Pendle peaks DAI liquidity pool TVL at $8.27 billion.
37. Aave supports USDC liquidity pool TVL of $40 billion.
38. Maple Finance (SyrupUSDC) demonstrates substantial ramp-up in stablecoin liquidity pool TVL.
39. Velodrome V2 lists USDC liquidity pool TVL at $42,731.
40. Uniswap V3 keeps DAI liquidity pool TVL active, though details are not specified.
41. Stablecoin liquidity fragmentation includes "Others" category at $27.7 billion.
42. USDC liquidity pools show net flows of $3.62 billion week-over-week.
43. DAI liquidity pools exhibit supply growth of 2.9% week-over-week.
44. Stablecoin liquidity pools average 4.08 million daily active addresses.
45. USDC commands 24.6% market share in liquidity pools.
46. DAI holds over 2% market share in liquidity pools.
47. Stablecoin liquidity pools tally 57.5 million transactions week-over-week.
48. USDC liquidity pools supply $76.4 billion.
49. DAI liquidity pools supply $4.7 billion.
50. Stablecoin liquidity pools achieve total transaction volume of $292.5 billion week-over-week.

51. DAI typically maintains a collateral ratio of 150%.
52. USDC upholds a 1:1 collateral ratio with USD reserves.
53. DAI requires an over-collateralization ratio of 150% or higher.
54. USDC features a 1:1 fiat-collateralized ratio with cash equivalents.
55. Sky Protocol sets DAI collateral ratio between 110-200%.
56. Under the GENIUS Act, USDC reserve backing ratio remains 1:1 with high-quality assets.
57. DAI crypto collateral ratio surpasses 150%.
58. U.S. Treasuries dominate USDC collateral composition.
59. ETH, WBTC, and USDC form DAI's collateral basket.
60. USDC offers a 1:1 redemption ratio with USD.
61. DAI PSM collateral re-balancing trends toward USDC under 100%.
62. Monthly attestations ensure USDC collateral transparency.
63. DAI over-collateralized loan ratio exceeds 100%.
64. Regulated institutions hold 100% of USDC collateral.
65. DAI includes a 150% volatility buffer in collateral ratio.
66. Short-term U.S. Treasuries occupy a high proportion of USDC collateral.
67. Liquidation for DAI typically occurs at 150% collateral ratio.
68. USDC maintains a 1:1 peg maintenance ratio.
69. For scalability, DAI crypto-backed collateral exceeds 150%.
70. USDC backs cash equivalents at a 1:1 collateral ratio.
71. Governance sets DAI collateral ratio at 150%.
72. USDC avoids bank deposit collateral, focusing mostly on Treasuries.
73. ETH contributes to DAI's collateral ratio as part of the 150%+ buffer.
74. Regulations require USDC collateral at 1:1 with liquid assets.
75. WBTC integrates into DAI's collateral ratio within the 150% buffer.

Conclusion

As DeFi grows in 2026, these 75 essential metrics for stablecoins like USDC and DAI provide a strong framework for assessing yield farming, liquidity pools, and collateral ratios.

Sourced from DeFi Llama, Messari and more, they emphasize performance indicators such as APYs averaging 4-7% for USDC and over-collateralization at 150% for DAI, enabling informed decision-making in a dynamic market.

Stay tuned with the Stablecoin Insider for the latest updates.

Read Next:

• 55 Comparison Stats: Stablecoins vs. CBDCs in 2026
• 50 Fintech Statistics That Matter in 2026
• 2025 Stablecoin Year-End Report

FAQs:

1. What Is the Top Yield Farming APY for USDC in 2026?

The top yield farming APY for USDC in 2026 reaches 5.96% on Jito Liquid Staking with TVL of $1.624 billion, as per DeFi Llama data.

2. How Do Collateral Ratios for DAI Impact DeFi Stability in 2026?

Collateral ratios for DAI in 2026 typically stand at 150% or higher, buffering against volatility and enhancing DeFi stability through over-collateralized loans on platforms like Sky Protocol.

3. What Is the Market Cap of USDC in 2026?

USDC's market cap in 2026 is $76.4 billion, representing 24.6% of the total stablecoin market, according to Messari reports.

4. How Has Liquidity Pool TVL for Stablecoins Changed in 2026?

Liquidity pool TVL for stablecoins in 2026 has grown to $311 billion overall, with USDC pools on Maple Finance contributing $2.6 billion at 5.13% APY.

5. What Is the Average APY for DAI Yield Farming in 2026?

The average APY for DAI yield farming in 2026 is around 4.00% on Sky Lending, supported by $4.6 billion TVL and collateral-backed mechanisms.

6. How Are Peg Deviations Affecting Stablecoin Performance in 2026?

Peg deviations for USDC in 2026 are minimal at +0.04%, while DAI stands at -0.05%, ensuring reliable performance in DeFi applications per DeFi Llama.

7. What Is the Dominance of USDT Compared to USDC and DAI in 2026?

USDT holds 60.4% dominance in 2026 with $186.3 billion market cap, overshadowing USDC at $72 billion and DAI at $4.6 billion, based on Messari insights.

8. How Do Yield-Bearing Stablecoins Like sUSDS Influence DeFi in 2026?

Yield-bearing stablecoins like sUSDS offer 4.00% APY with $4.6 billion TVL, driving DeFi adoption by combining liquidity with passive income opportunities.

9. What Collateral Composition Supports USDC in 2026?

USDC in 2026 is supported by 1:1 collateral in U.S. Treasuries and cash equivalents, minimizing risks as highlighted in Messari analyses.

10. How Is Transaction Volume Trending for Stablecoin Liquidity Pools in 2026?

Transaction volume for stablecoin liquidity pools in 2026 averages $298.3 billion daily, up 78.2% MoM, reflecting institutional-driven growth in DeFi.

Disclaimer:
This content is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, legal, or tax advice; no material herein should be interpreted as a recommendation, endorsement, or solicitation to buy or sell any financial instrument, and readers should conduct their own independent research or consult a qualified professional.