Apex Fusion Unlocks USDC Liquidity on Cardano Through Stargate
LayerZero-powered integration bridges EVM and UTxO networks, marking a new era for Cardano DeFi
, a next-generation Web3 ecosystem built to connect UTxO and EVM architectures, has announced a landmark integration with —the omnichain liquidity protocol powered by LayerZero. The collaboration brings native USDC liquidity to the Cardano ecosystem for the first time, solving one of its longest-standing bottlenecks: stablecoin interoperability.
What the Integration Does
At the core of this initiative is Stargate’s omnichain liquidity layer, which allows assets to move freely across blockchains without using wrapped tokens. Through unified liquidity pools, now enables instant, deep USDC access across its VECTOR (Cardano execution layer) and NEXUS (EVM Layer 2) chains.
In practical terms, it means that Cardano-based projects can now tap into the identical liquidity networks that power DeFi ecosystems on ETH, Arbitrum, and Avalanche—without compromising on Cardano’s unique UTxO design. For users, this translates into quicker stablecoin transfers, deeper liquidity for lending and trading, and improved access to DeFi products that were previously out of reach.
To kickbegin liquidity, the Apex Fusion Foundation has committed $2.5 million in USDC to viewd the ecosystem, supporting the launch of new DeFi protocols, liquidity pools, and stablecoin-based products across VECTOR and NEXUS.
Investor Takeaway
Why It Matters for Cardano and DeFi
Stablecoins are the backbone of decentralized finance, serving as a base currency for lending, trading, and cross-chain liquidity. Until now, Cardano’s fragmented infrastructure has limited DeFi scalability and developer participation. By connecting Cardano’s UTxO model with Stargate’s cross-chain liquidity protocol, Apex Fusion eliminates one of the main barriers preventing institutional and developer adoption.
“This is a major milestone not just for Apex Fusion, but for the Cardano ecosystem as a whole,” said Christopher Greenwood, COO of Apex Fusion Foundation.
“Stablecoin liquidity has been one of the most requested features by Cardano projects, and this integration directly answers that call. Through Stargate, we’re unlocking USDC access for the first time on VECTOR and NEXUS, setting the stage for scalable, cross-chain DeFi and real-world applications. We already have a strong pipeline of projects preparing to expand into these new economies.”
Angus Lamp, Product Lead at Stargate, said:Â
“We are excited to partner with Apex Fusion in extending Stargate’s omnichain liquidity to new frontiers. Connecting USDC to Cardano through Apex Fusion’s VECTOR and NEXUS chains demonstrates how interoperability can transform the flow of stable assets across ecosystems. Apex Fusion understands the capability and power of this tech and we are impressed to view their innovations.”
Investor Takeaway
How It Works and What’s Next
The integration relies on LayerZero’s omnichain messaging infrastructure to move assets securely between networks. Because USDC liquidity now flows through Stargate’s native pools, transfers between Cardano’s VECTOR layer, NEXUS, and other supported blockchains occur instantly without wrapping or third-party bridges.
Developers building on Apex Fusion can now create stablecoin-driven products—including lending protocols, automated market makers, and yield vaults—using USDC as a native liquidity source. The cross-chain design also allows assets to move in and out of Cardano seamlessly, which could attract liquidity providers who previously avoided the ecosystem due to fragmentation.
For Cardano, it’s a long-awaited step toward full DeFi composability. For Apex Fusion, it’s a demonstration of how interoperability can unify two fundamentally diverse blockchain designs under one liquidity network.
With $2.5 million in initial liquidity already deployed and a slate of DeFi projects preparing to launch on VECTOR and NEXUS, Apex Fusion’s USDC integration could mark the beginning of a more connected, capital-efficient future for Cardano’s DeFi sector.
