Arc Enables AI Agents to Pay Humans in USDC for 3D World Scans

Circle's Layer-1 blockchain, Arc, has been launched on September 16, 2026. One of its defining design choices is that USDC serves as both the gas token and the settlement currency.

This setup allows AI agents to pay humans in USDC for specific tasks, such as capturing real-world locations in 3D. The agent-to-human pipeline involves an agent posting a request for a scan, a human contractor capturing the location, and the finished model being delivered as a GLB file.

The payment process runs through escrow, with the agent's USDC held until the scan is accepted. Refunds are available if delivery fails. Arc also supports agent-driven micropayments with sub-second transaction finality.