Crypto
Circle Launches Arc Layer 1 Blockchain Beyond USDC
Circle has launched Arc, its own Layer 1 blockchain that will expand beyond USDC.
Arc is an EVM-compatible L1 with transactions executed via the Reth client and finalized by Circle's Malachite consensus engine. Gas fees are paid directly in USDC, transactions achieve finality in under a second, and developers can deploy without permission.
Circle emphasizes foundational optimizations around Arc, including balancing cryptocurrency and traditional finance. Over 100 applications are live on the network, covering DeFi and memecoins.