WuBlockchain
Circle has launched the public mainnet of Arc, an open Layer 1 blockchain built for financial markets and agentic activity. More than 100 applications and over 100 institutions and ecosystem builders are live at launch.
The founding validator set reads like a TradFi roll call: BlackRock, DTCC, Galaxy, ICE, Mastercard, SBI Group, Standard Chartered and Visa. Arc uses USDC for gas and offers sub-second finality, positioning it as infrastructure for tokenized money movement rather than a general-purpose smart contract chain.
Why it matters
This is one of the clearest institutional endorsements of a new Layer 1 to date. BlackRock and Visa validating a Circle-built chain means the largest asset manager and payment networks are willing to operate infrastructure, not just hold exposure. If stablecoin-settled market activity migrates on-chain, Arc is built to be the venue.
Market impact
Circle also completed a genesis mint of 10 billion ARC tokens, though it stressed this does not commit it to a public token launch. The market will watch whether validators begin routing real settlement volume through Arc and whether an ARC token distribution follows.
Source: [Circle Launches Arc Mainnet, an Economic Operating System for the Internet — Circle Internet Financial](https://www.circle.com/pressroom/circle-launches-arc-mainnet-an-economic-operating-system-for-the-internet#webpage)
Frequently asked questions
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What is Circle's Arc blockchain?
Arc is an open Layer 1 blockchain built by Circle for financial markets and agentic activity. It uses USDC for gas fees and delivers sub-second transaction finality.
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Which institutions are validating Arc at launch?
Founding validators include BlackRock, DTCC, Galaxy, ICE, Mastercard, SBI Group, Standard Chartered and Visa, with more than 100 institutions and ecosystem builders live at launch.
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Did Circle mint 10 billion ARC tokens?
Yes, Circle completed a genesis mint of 10 billion ARC tokens, but stated this does not commit the company to a public token launch.
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Why does Arc use USDC for gas?
USDC-denominated gas ties transaction costs directly to a regulated stablecoin, aligning the chain with Circle's stablecoin business and making fees predictable for institutional settlement.
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How is Arc different from other Layer 1 blockchains?
Arc is purpose-built for financial markets rather than general-purpose apps, with institutional validators, USDC gas and sub-second finality aimed at tokenized money movement and settlement.
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