Circle has switched on the mainnet for Arc, its purpose-built blockchain, marking a significant step for the stablecoin issuer as it moves deeper into infrastructure. The network uses USDC as its native gas token and arrives with support for more than 20 fiat-backed stablecoins and connectivity to over 20 other blockchains.
A Stablecoin-First Network
Arc departs from the design of most blockchains by making USDC the currency used to pay transaction fees, rather than a separate volatile token. The approach is intended to give users and developers a more predictable cost structure, since fees are denominated in a dollar-pegged asset rather than a fluctuating cryptocurrency.
By putting its own stablecoin at the center of the network, Circle is positioning Arc as a settlement layer geared toward payments, trading and other financial applications where stability and cost clarity matter.
Paying gas in a dollar-pegged token means transaction costs no longer swing with the market.
Broad Stablecoin and Chain Support
Beyond USDC, the mainnet launch includes support for more than 20 fiat stablecoins, broadening the range of currencies that can move across the network. That multi-currency capability could appeal to businesses handling cross-border transactions and foreign exchange.
Arc also connects to over 20 blockchains at launch, a move designed to reduce fragmentation and allow assets and data to flow between ecosystems more easily.
Key features rolling out with the mainnet include:
- USDC as the native token for paying transaction fees
- Support for more than 20 fiat-backed stablecoins
- Interoperability with over 20 external blockchains
The launch reflects Circle's broader ambition to expand its footprint from being primarily a stablecoin issuer into a provider of core financial infrastructure, competing for a slice of the growing on-chain payments and settlement market.