Y Combinator Normalizes Stablecoin Funding for the Spring 2026 Startup Batch
Este artículo fue publicado originalmente aquí
In a move that reflects the maturing landscape of global financial infrastructure, the world-renowned startup accelerator Y Combinator (YC) announced on February 3, 2026, that it will now allow founders to receive their investments in stablecoins. Starting with the upcoming Spring 2026 batch, startups can elect to receive the standard 500,000 dollar YC investment in USDC across major blockchain networks, including Ethereum, Solana, and Base. This decision was spearheaded by Visiting Partner Nemil Dalal, a former Coinbase executive, who noted that the option was driven by significant “founder demand” for faster and cheaper alternatives to traditional fiat rails. While founders must choose between receiving their funding entirely in stablecoins or entirely in cash, the addition of a digital dollar option marks the first time in YC’s history that it has moved away from exclusive reliance on legacy bank wires. The accelerator believes that this shift will be particularly transformative for international founders who often face exorbitant fees and multi-day delays when moving capital across borders.
Enhancing Capital Velocity and Reducing Friction for Global Entrepreneurs
The primary technical advantage of the new stablecoin funding option is the near-instantaneous nature of on-chain settlement. Dalal pointed out that while a traditional international wire transfer can cost dozens of dollars in intermediary fees and take several days to clear, a USDC transfer typically costs less than one cent and settles in under a second. For early-stage startups where “runway is life,” the ability to access capital globally for pennies is a critical competitive advantage. YC has already seen success stories from within its portfolio, such as Latin American-focused firms like DolarApp and Aspora, which use stablecoins to bypass inefficient local banking systems. By offering USDC as a first-class funding citizen, Y Combinator is effectively legitimizing the use of stablecoins for core corporate treasury functions, encouraging a new wave of founders to build their financial operations on-chain from day one.
The Impact of Regulatory Clarity and the Future of On Chain Capital Formation
YC’s decision to embrace stablecoin payouts is closely tied to the “regulatory inflection point” reached in the United States following the successful passage of the GENIUS Act last year. This legislation created a federal framework for stablecoins that mirrors the safety and soundness standards of traditional banks, giving institutional players the confidence to integrate digital dollars into their primary workflows. Beyond just funding, YC is actively encouraging more founders to build “stablecoin-native” infrastructure through its latest “Request for Startups,” identifying payments and cross-border financial services as the most promising areas of development. As more of the financial needs of startups—from payroll to vendor payouts—move to blockchain rails, YC expects stablecoins to become the default settlement layer for the next generation of global businesses. By supporting founders “where they already are,” the accelerator is once again positioning itself at the forefront of a major shift in how capital is formed, distributed, and utilized in the modern world.