Y Combinator (YC), the world’s leading startup accelerator, announced a significant strategic pivot today, confirming that it will begin offering funding disbursements to selected startups in the form of stablecoins starting with the Spring 2026 (S26) cohort. This initiative, set to launch in March 2026, is aimed at drastically reducing friction in cross-border funding transfers, providing immediate liquidity, and better catering to the operational needs of global and Web3-native companies.
Under the new structure, accepted startups will have the option to receive a predetermined portion of their standard seed investment (expected to be up to 50% of the initial tranche) in a major, compliant stablecoin—such as USDC or an equivalent fiat-backed asset. This approach bypasses the often slow and costly traditional banking infrastructure that typically delays funding for international founders, who currently represent a significant portion of YC’s batches.
YC leadership stated the move addresses key pain points identified through founder feedback, specifically around foreign exchange volatility and the weeks-long waiting periods for traditional wire transfers. By leveraging digital assets, YC seeks to ensure founders can access working capital instantly, enabling them to focus entirely on product development and market entry.
Analysts view this decision as a major validation of stablecoins within the mainstream venture capital ecosystem. The adoption by a powerful gatekeeper like YC is expected to pressure other global accelerators and early-stage VC funds to explore similar mechanisms, further integrating digital assets into standard financial operations and streamlining the deployment of global venture capital.
Source: Y Combinator opens stablecoin funding option for startups starting Spring 2026
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