Circle Launches Public Mainnet for Arc Layer 1 Blockchain

Circle has launched the public mainnet for 'Arc,' an EVM-compatible Layer 1 blockchain designed for financial markets, real-time value transfer, and AI-driven economic activity. Arc uses USDC for gas fees and features sub-second finality. The network is supported by founding validators including BlackRock, DTCC, Galaxy, Global Payments, Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), Mastercard, MoneyGram, SBI Group, Standard Chartered, Sumitomo Corporation, and Visa. Arc integrates Circle's CCTP and Gateway for interoperability with over 20 blockchains and supports various fiat-backed stablecoins, including EURC and JPYC. Financial institutions such as BNY, HSBC, and Societe Generale are exploring services on the platform, which also features DeFi protocols like Aave, Morpho, and Uniswap, alongside support from exchanges including Binance, Kraken, OKX, and Upbit.