Circle Launches Arc Mainnet With BlackRock, Visa and DTCC in Founding Group
•
September 16, 2026 11:16 am
•
Comments
Circle has switched on Arc, a new Layer-1 blockchain built to put stablecoin payments, tokenized assets and institutional markets on the same settlement network.
The launch matters because Arc is arriving with far more than an empty chain and a roadmap. Circle says the network went live with USDC as its native gas asset, tokenized funds available from day one, established lending and trading protocols, and a founding validator group that includes BlackRock, Visa, Mastercard and the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation.
In its mainnet announcement, Arc described the network as an open financial platform for global markets, real-time value movement and software agents that can transact under defined permissions. The chain is EVM-compatible, is designed for predictable stablecoin-denominated fees and targets final settlement in under a second.
Arc Mainnet is live.
Built for programmable money, global markets, and agentic economic activity, Arc brings stablecoin-native infrastructure to builders and institutions from day one.
Explore what’s live on Arc: https://t.co/2dpsrq6vW3 pic.twitter.com/KzWq7sM8Bg
— Circle (@circle) September 16, 2026
The institutional lineup is the clearest sign of Circle’s pitch. Arc says its phased validator rollout includes BlackRock, DTCC, Galaxy, ICE, Mastercard, MoneyGram, SBI Group, Standard Chartered, Sumitomo, Visa and Worldpay.
That is a deliberate attempt to combine public blockchain access with a defined operating and governance perimeter that large financial firms can evaluate.
Arc is also launching with assets and markets already connected. BlackRock’s BUIDL, Circle’s USYC and tokenized funds from Janus Henderson are among the assets named in the launch package.
Aave and Morpho anchor lending, while Uniswap and Aero provide trading infrastructure. Circle says its cross-chain tools connect Arc with more than 20 other networks.
Decrypt’s report adds an important detail: Circle completed a genesis mint of 10 billion ARC tokens, but the company said that technical step is not a commitment to launch the token publicly. The distinction matters in a market that can turn infrastructure milestones into token speculation long before a company has made an actual distribution decision.
Arc Mainnet is live.
The Economic OS for the internet is online and onchain.
An open internet platform for the world's financial markets, real-time value movement, and agentic economic activity. pic.twitter.com/TjuNO2FtsE
— Arc (@arc) September 16, 2026
For crypto users, the immediate test will be whether Arc can turn that heavyweight launch group into real liquidity and activity. The network promises sub-cent fees, fast finality, stablecoin foreign exchange, tokenized collateral and agent-controlled wallets with spending limits.
Those pieces sound compelling together, but adoption will depend on builders and institutions moving meaningful volume onto the chain.
Circle already has distribution through USDC. Arc is the bigger bet: that the company can convert its stablecoin reach into a full settlement layer where payments, lending, trading and tokenized assets meet.
With mainnet now live, that thesis has moved from presentation deck to public network.
Join the conversation!
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.