Circle Unveils Arc Mainnet, a USDC-Native Blockchain with Institutional Backing
Circle has launched the mainnet for Arc, a layer-1 blockchain designed to support its USDC stablecoin. The network is backed by prominent institutions such as BlackRock, Visa, and Mastercard as validators.
Arc's unique features include full EVM compatibility, allowing existing Solidity contracts to run without modification, and the ability to charge network fees in USDC rather than a volatile token. The native ARC token serves as a coordination mechanism for network security, utility, and governance, with a fixed supply of 10 billion.
The chain currently operates on a proof-of-authority model but will shift to proof of stake in 2027. It offers sub-second finality and an optional privacy feature that allows institutions to shield transaction details behind view keys.
Eleven institutions serve as founding validators, with more than 100 applications and institutional integrations going live alongside the mainnet launch. This includes banks, exchanges, DeFi protocols, custody providers, and wallets.