Circle has launched its Arc mainnet, a blockchain for institutional finance, allowing rapid transactions and AI integration.
Circle has launched its Arc blockchain mainnet, aimed at enhancing transactions in institutional financial markets and automating processes through AI.
Arc Mainnet is now active, designed as an open platform for global markets.
More than just a blockchain, Arc serves as a full-stack financial platform.
It enables real-time value movement and supports agentic economic activities.
Users can pay transaction fees directly with USDC, eliminating the need for a separate native token. The Arc blockchain is fully compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) and boasts transaction finalization in less than a second, alongside support for post-quantum signature algorithms. Planned future updates include privacy features allowing selective visibility for auditing.
This platform provides infrastructure for various financial activities, including:
- Issuing and trading Real World Assets (RWA);
- Lending and borrowing mechanisms;
- On-chain trading and liquidity services;
- International currency operations and settlements;
- Functionality for exchanges, wallets, and custodial services.
Circle's ecosystem integrates with its major products, such as the cross-chain protocol CCTP, payment gateways, and developer tools. Validators for Arc include prominent financial entities like BlackRock, Visa, and Standard Chartered, with over 100 applications already utilizing the network.
The blockchain is built for AI software agents using the Circle Agent Stack, enabling bots to manage transactions and sensitive data securely. Currently, most transactions between these agents utilize USDC.
Circle has also released 10 billion ARC utility tokens for governance, aiding the transition from a Proof-of-Authority to a Proof-of-Stake model set for 2027. Transaction fees will continue to be paid in USDC, and while the ARC token has been introduced, Circle clarified that a public listing is not imminent.
To support developers, Circle launched Arc Studio, an AI assistant, and the Arc App Kits, simplifying smart contract deployment and payment integration.
Earlier this year, Circle raised $222 million during a presale for the ARC token, involving notable investors like a16z crypto and BlackRock, with the network currently valued at $3 billion.
