Circle, the second-largest issuer of stablecoins globally, has officially launched the public testnet for Arc, its open layer-1 blockchain designed to enhance global financial infrastructure on the blockchain.
This rollout, referred to by Circle as the “Economic Operating System for the internet,” has garnered participation from over 100 leading companies across banking, capital markets, and fintech, including BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, Visa, Mastercard, and State Street, according to a Tuesday announcement.
“With the launch of Arc’s public testnet, we’re experiencing significant early momentum as top companies, protocols, and projects start to develop and test,” said Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire. “Together, these organizations reach billions of users and manage, exchange, and safeguard hundreds of trillions in assets and payments,” he remarked.
Arc is tailored to offer reliable US dollar-denominated fees, provide instant finality, and optional privacy features, all while seamlessly integrating with Circle’s USDC (USDC) stablecoin and payment solutions. It aims to empower a diverse array of financial applications, ranging from lending and capital markets to global payments and foreign exchange (FX).
Related: ClearBank joins Circle Payments Network as one of the first EU banks
Institutions engage with Circle’s Arc testnet
The testnet’s launch has attracted participation from prominent institutions including Apollo, BNY Mellon, Intercontinental Exchange, and Deutsche Bank, along with global payment firms such as Mastercard, FIS, Paysafe, and Nuvei.
Circle highlighted that Arc’s specially-designed architecture connects local markets across various continents, from Africa to the Americas and Asia, providing enterprise-grade infrastructure for both traditional financial institutions and Web3-native initiatives.
A key feature of Arc is its contribution to stablecoin infrastructure. The network accommodates fiat-pegged tokens, tokenized funds, and FX liquidity. Issuers from seven nations, including JPYC (Japan), BRLA (Brazil), MXNB (Mexico), and PHPC (Philippines), have joined the testnet.
The Arc ecosystem transcends finance, incorporating top developer and infrastructure providers like MetaMask, Fireblocks, Chainlink, Alchemy, and LayerZero, along with cross-chain bridges such as Wormhole and Stargate.
There are also plans for AI integration, with Anthropic’s Claude Agent SDK set to enhance the developer experience through AI-driven tools.
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Circle aims to connect global markets
Allaire stated that Arc is “purpose-built to link every local market to the global economy,” emphasizing the chance for all types of businesses to “develop on enterprise-grade network infrastructure.”
Circle envisions transitioning Arc into a community-governed network over the long term, expanding validator involvement and establishing clear governance.
Circle first announced plans for Arc in August, stating that the network would utilize USDC as its native gas token. Last week, Allaire also revealed that Circle is developing private stablecoins on Arc.
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