Circle Launches Arc Blockchain with Institutional Backing
Circle is launching its Arc blockchain on September 16, 2026, bringing institutional-grade settlement infrastructure to the market. The USDC-native Layer 1 network has received backing from some of the biggest names in traditional finance, including BlackRock and Visa.
The eleven founding validators for Arc include DTCC, ICE, and Mastercard, among others. This is a significant shift away from the permissionless ethos of earlier blockchains, as Arc's validators are hand-picked by Circle rather than open to anyone who wants to stake tokens.
Arc's technology stack includes Malachite consensus with sub-500-millisecond finality and an EVM-compatible execution layer built on Reth. This allows for fast and compliant USDC settlements, making it an attractive option for institutional trading desks.