Circle announces Arc blockchain with backing from BlackRock, Visa, and Mastercard; public mainnet launches September 2026 with asset tokenization planned for 2027.
Tech & Launches ·
Circle, the issuer of USDC stablecoin, has unveiled its founding validator group for Arc, an open blockchain network. The cohort includes BlackRock, Visa, Mastercard, DTCC, Galaxy, Global Payments, ICE, MoneyGram, SBI Group, Standard Chartered, and Sumitomo Corporation. Arc is currently running on private mainnet with more than 100 builders and ecosystem participants, with public launch scheduled for September 16, 2026.
The network is designed to enable secure, scalable financial applications on-chain, with major institutions serving dual roles as both builders and validators. BlackRock plans to deploy BUIDL, its USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund, on Arc, allowing institutional investors to subscribe, redeem, and manage fund assets within a single on-chain setting. Circle is also partnering with DTCC to support the tokenization of assets held at The Depository Trust Company beginning in the second half of 2027, enabling market participants to settle stablecoin transactions against tokenized assets while maintaining existing investor protections.
At launch, Arc will feature a product suite spanning DeFi platforms including Aave, Morpho, and Uniswap; payment providers such as Rain and Thunes; custody and access providers including Kraken, Ledger, and MetaMask; and developer tools for smart contract work and tokenized asset management. The network's architecture centers on USDC integration to facilitate payments and settlement flows across participants.