Circle introduces Arc, enterprise-grade infrastructure for stablecoin finance

Circle has launched Arc, a new open Layer-1 blockchain designed specifically for stablecoin-based finance. The platform targets enterprise-level onchain applications and offers low, predictable, dollar-denominated fees by using USDC as the native currency for transaction fees.

Arc includes an integrated foreign exchange engine for 24/7 onchain transactions, sub-second finality powered by the Malachite consensus engine, and selective privacy options. The blockchain is EVM-compatible, allowing developers to use existing infrastructure and tools.

The solution is built to address the limitations of current blockchain infrastructure regarding stablecoin liquidity and capital efficiency. Circle states that Arc will facilitate the launch and scaling of stablecoin-based financial applications, including for financial institutions and payment service providers.

Arc is natively integrated with the Circle Payments Network and supports USDC, EURC, USYC1, as well as features such as wallets, smart contracts, and CCTP. The project targets both stablecoin issuers and developers of financial protocols, offering an interoperable framework with the global multichain ecosystem.