> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.magic.link/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Send USDC

> Send USDC on Base using Magic Embedded Wallets

## Overview

This guide shows how to use Magic's Embedded Wallet to send USDC on Base. Users authenticate with Magic, and your app builds and sends the ERC-20 transfer transaction through the wallet's provider — no backend required.

***

## Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have:

1. A Magic **Publishable** API Key from your [Magic Dashboard](https://dashboard.magic.link)
2. A Base RPC endpoint (e.g., from [Alchemy](https://www.alchemy.com/) or [QuickNode](https://www.quicknode.com/))
3. USDC on Base in the user's wallet
4. ETH on Base for gas fees (typically fractions of a cent)

### How It Works

1. User authenticates with Magic
2. Magic SDK creates an Embedded Wallet for the user
3. Your app builds an ERC-20 `transfer` call with the recipient and amount
4. The transaction is sent via the wallet's provider and confirmed on-chain

***

## Setting Up the Client

Initialize Magic and create viem clients connected to Base.

```typescript TypeScript icon="square-js" theme={null}
import { Magic } from "magic-sdk";
import { createWalletClient, createPublicClient, custom, http } from "viem";
import { base } from "viem/chains";

const magic = new Magic("YOUR_PUBLISHABLE_KEY", {
  network: {
    rpcUrl: "https://base-mainnet.g.alchemy.com/v2/YOUR_ALCHEMY_KEY",
    chainId: 8453,
  },
});

// Public client for read operations
const publicClient = createPublicClient({
  chain: base,
  transport: http("https://base-mainnet.g.alchemy.com/v2/YOUR_ALCHEMY_KEY"),
});

// Wallet client for transactions (after user authenticates)
const walletClient = createWalletClient({
  chain: base,
  transport: custom(magic.rpcProvider),
});

const [userAddress] = await walletClient.getAddresses();
```

***

## Contract Setup

Define the USDC address and the minimal ERC-20 ABI needed for transfers.

```typescript TypeScript icon="square-js" theme={null}
import { type Address, parseUnits, formatUnits } from "viem";

const USDC_ADDRESS: Address = "0x833589fCD6eDb6E08f4c7C32D4f71b54bdA02913";
const USDC_DECIMALS = 6;

const erc20Abi = [
  {
    name: "transfer",
    type: "function",
    inputs: [
      { name: "to", type: "address" },
      { name: "value", type: "uint256" },
    ],
    outputs: [{ type: "bool" }],
    stateMutability: "nonpayable",
  },
  {
    name: "balanceOf",
    type: "function",
    inputs: [{ name: "account", type: "address" }],
    outputs: [{ type: "uint256" }],
    stateMutability: "view",
  },
] as const;
```

***

## Sending USDC

Call the ERC-20 `transfer` function to send USDC to any address.

```typescript TypeScript icon="square-js" theme={null}
async function sendUSDC(to: Address, amount: string) {
  const value = parseUnits(amount, USDC_DECIMALS);

  const hash = await walletClient.writeContract({
    address: USDC_ADDRESS,
    abi: erc20Abi,
    functionName: "transfer",
    args: [to, value],
    account: userAddress,
  });

  const receipt = await publicClient.waitForTransactionReceipt({ hash });
  return receipt.transactionHash;
}

// Send 10 USDC
await sendUSDC("0xRecipientAddress", "10");
```

***

## Checking Balance

Read the user's USDC balance before or after a transfer.

```typescript TypeScript icon="square-js" theme={null}
async function getUSDCBalance(address: Address) {
  const balance = await publicClient.readContract({
    address: USDC_ADDRESS,
    abi: erc20Abi,
    functionName: "balanceOf",
    args: [address],
  });

  return formatUnits(balance, USDC_DECIMALS);
}

const balance = await getUSDCBalance(userAddress);
console.log(`Balance: ${balance} USDC`);
```

***

## Contract Addresses

Key addresses on Base (chain ID 8453):

```typescript TypeScript icon="square-js" theme={null}
// USDC on Base (native, issued by Circle)
const USDC_ADDRESS = "0x833589fCD6eDb6E08f4c7C32D4f71b54bdA02913";
```

<Info>
  Base has both native USDC (`0x8335...`) and bridged USDbC (`0xd9aA...`). This guide uses **native USDC**, which is the standard token on Base.
</Info>

***

## Key Dependencies

| Package                                                | Purpose                                   |
| ------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------- |
| [`magic-sdk`](https://www.npmjs.com/package/magic-sdk) | Magic authentication and Embedded Wallet  |
| [`viem`](https://viem.sh/)                             | Ethereum client for contract interactions |

***

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Transfer reverts">
    **Symptoms:** The transfer transaction fails or reverts on-chain.

    **Solutions:**

    * Check that the user has sufficient USDC balance on Base
    * Verify the recipient address is valid (not the zero address)
    * Ensure the user has ETH on Base for gas fees
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Wrong token sent">
    **Symptoms:** Tokens were sent but don't appear as USDC in the recipient's wallet.

    **Solutions:**

    * Confirm you're using the native USDC address (`0x833589fCD6eDb6E08f4c7C32D4f71b54bdA02913`), not bridged USDbC
    * Check the transaction on [Basescan](https://basescan.org) to verify the token contract
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Transaction stuck or slow">
    **Symptoms:** Transaction is pending for a long time.

    **Solutions:**

    * Base transactions typically confirm in 2-3 seconds
    * Check [Basescan](https://basescan.org) for the transaction status
    * If the network is congested, the transaction will still confirm — just wait
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

***

## Resources

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Magic Embedded Wallets" icon="wallet" href="/embedded-wallets/introduction">
    Learn about Magic's Embedded Wallet product
  </Card>

  <Card title="Base Documentation" icon="book" href="https://docs.base.org/">
    Official Base network documentation
  </Card>

  <Card title="EVM Transaction Signing" icon="pen" href="/embedded-wallets/wallets/features/transaction-signing">
    Guide for signing transactions with Magic wallets
  </Card>

  <Card title="USDC on Base" icon="circle-dollar-to-slot" href="https://www.circle.com/usdc">
    Learn about Circle's USDC stablecoin
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

***