Methanol-water　reforming　is　a　promising　solution　for　H-2　production/transportation　in　stationary　and　mobile　hydrogen　applications.　Developing　inexpensive　catalysts　with　sufficiently　high　activity,　selectivity,　and　stability　remains　challenging.　In　this　paper,　nickel-supported　over　face-centered　cubic　(fcc)　phase　alpha-MoC　has　been　discovered　to　exhibit　extraordinary　hydrogen　production　activity　in　the　aqueous-phase　methanol　reforming　reaction.　Under　optimized　condition,　the　hydrogen　production　rate　of　2%　Ni/alpha-MoC　is　about　6　times　higher　than　that　of　conventional　noble　metal　2%　Pt/Al2O3　catalyst.　We　demonstrate　that　Ni　is　atomically　dispersed　over　alpha-MoC　via　carbon　bridge　bonds,　forming　a　Ni-1-C-x　motif　on　the　carbide　surface.　Such　Ni-1-C-x　motifs　can　effectively　stabilize　the　isolated　Ni-1　sites　over　the　alpha-MoC　substrate,　rendering　maximized　active　site　density　and　high　structural　stability.　In　addition,　the　synergy　between　Ni-1-C-x　motif　and　alpha-MoC　produces　an　active　interfacial　structure　for　water　dissociation,　methanol　activation,　and　successive　reforming　processes　with　compatible　activity.