๐ Circle Unveils Arc โ A New Blockchain Powered by USDC Gas Fees
Circle โ the U.S. fintech giant behind the $65.6B USDC stablecoin โ is stepping into blockchain infrastructure with Arc, an enterprise-grade Layer-1 network launching later this year.
๐น Key Highlights
EVM-Compatible: Arc works with Ethereum-based smart contracts.
USDC as Gas: Pay transaction fees directly in USDC โ no native token needed.
Speed & Privacy: Sub-second settlements, optional privacy controls, and a built-in stablecoin FX engine.
Integration: Fully connected with Circleโs platform and interoperable with 24+ blockchains already supporting USDC.
๐ The Numbers
USDC Supply:$ETH $65.6B total, $ETH $42.6B on Ethereum.
Q2 2025 Revenue: $658M (+53% YoY).
Net Loss: $482M โ largely from IPO-related stock compensation and convertible debt adjustments.
IPO Performance: Raised $1.05B at $69/share; peaked at $292.8; now $161.2.
๐ก Why It Matters
Arc positions Circle beyond just issuing stablecoins โ itโs building the rails for instant, stablecoin-powered payments in global finance. With USDC as the gas token, businesses and users skip the complexity of buying other cryptos for fees.
Circle says Arc is โpurpose-built for stablecoin finance,โ aiming to power everything from cross-border payments to capital markets settlement. If successful, Arc could become a key piece of the digital dollar ecosystem.
