On February 3, according to The Block, Silicon Valley accelerator Y Combinator (YC) announced it will allow startups to receive investment funding in stablecoins, marking the first official integration of stablecoin payments into its investment framework.
Nemil Dalal, YC’s crypto Visiting Partner, stated that beginning with the Spring 2026 batch, all YC-funded companies—regardless of whether they operate in the crypto sector—will have the option to receive investment funds in stablecoins.
Multi-Chain Support with USDC as Primary Funding Asset
Under the new model, YC will distribute funds across multiple mainstream blockchain networks, including Ethereum, Base, and Solana, with USDC serving as the primary funding asset.
YC believes stablecoins offer higher efficiency and lower costs compared to traditional bank wire transfers, particularly benefiting globally distributed teams and remote-first startups engaged in cross-border operations.
Regulatory Clarity Drives Stablecoins into Mainstream Venture Financing
YC noted that the decision aligns with increasing regulatory clarity following the passage of the U.S. GENIUS Act, which has helped define stablecoin oversight frameworks.
Clearer regulations enable institutions to utilize stablecoins for compliant fund management and payments, and as traditional investors begin to accept on-chain assets as funding tools, stablecoins may become a new standard in startup financing.
Risk Management and Compliance Needs in On-Chain Financing
The rise of stablecoin-based funding also introduces new challenges in fund flow monitoring and cross-border compliance. For investors and startups, implementing on-chain risk monitoring mechanisms becomes increasingly important.
Solutions such as Trustformer KYT can assist in identifying fund sources, transaction paths, and high-risk addresses in real time, helping ensure efficient yet compliant financing operations.
Conclusion
Y Combinator’s adoption of stablecoin funding reflects deeper integration between traditional venture capital and blockchain finance. As regulatory frameworks mature, stablecoins are likely to become a core financial infrastructure within the global startup ecosystem.