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 has named BlackRock, Visa, DTCC, and eight additional institutional partners as validators for its Arc protocol, according to reporting on the partnership. The announcement comes as the stablecoin issuer reported second-quarter revenue of $701 million and USDC circulation reaching $73.3B.
Arc is positioned as a protocol for institutional settlement and payment infrastructure, with the named validators representing major financial institutions and market infrastructure operators. The validator selection signals institutional engagement ahead of the protocol's public launch.
The timing and composition of the validator group remain notable anchors for the rollout, though additional operational details about validator roles and Arc's technical specifications have not been fully disclosed in available reporting.