Arc: what the network is and where it stands
Arc is a Layer 1 blockchain built by Circle, the issuer of USDC, for stablecoin payments, FX and tokenized assets. Fees are paid in stablecoins, starting with USDC, and transactions reach sub-second finality.
What this network is
As of 11 September 2026 Arc is in private mainnet with more than 100 institutional and ecosystem builders. Public mainnet is scheduled for 16 September 2026. This page states what Circle has announced and, separately, what we have verified ourselves.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Network status | Private mainnet; public mainnet on 16 September 2026 Source → |
| Built by | Circle Source → |
| Fees paid in | Stablecoins, starting with USDC Source → |
| Finality | Sub-second Source → |
| Validators | Permissioned founding cohort of 11: BlackRock, DTCC, Galaxy, Global Payments, ICE, Mastercard, MoneyGram, SBI Group, Standard Chartered, Sumitomo, Visa Source → |
We do not list a chain ID, RPC or explorer for Arc yet: third-party lists exist, but we publish network parameters only after checking them against Circle's documentation once public mainnet is live.
Verified on 11.09.2026
Who it is for
Circle describes Arc as a platform for developers, businesses and institutions: stablecoin issuance, global FX, institutional-grade onchain markets and tokenized real-world assets. A retail user's place on Arc is not described in the launch materials.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Stated audience | "a developer", "a business", "an institution" Source → |
If you hold USDC and want to "use Arc", the honest answer on the check date is: wait for wallets and exchanges from the launch list to actually enable Arc, then check this page's "verified" column.
Verified on 11.09.2026
Claimed at launch
Claimed
- Wallets: MetaMask, Ledger, Binance Wallet Source →
- Exchanges: Kraken, Upbit Source →
- Custody and infrastructure: Fireblocks, BNY, Chainlink Source →
- DeFi and markets: Aave, Morpho, Uniswap, Aerodrome, FalconX, Galaxy, GSR, Keyrock Source →
- Payments: Rain, Thunes, Wirex Source →
- Assets: USDC natively; BlackRock BUIDL expected; DTCC tokenization integration planned for H2 2027 Source →
Verified by us
Nothing in the "verified" column yet: public mainnet has not launched. After 16 September we check each integration ourselves (wallet shows Arc, exchange opens deposits/withdrawals, bridge routes exist) and move it here with a date.
Verified on 11.09.2026
How gas is paid
On most chains you must hold a separate native token to pay fees. Arc charges fees in stablecoins, starting with USDC, so a user holding only USDC can transact without buying anything else. Circle calls this "predictable fees".
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Fees | "predictable fees payable in stablecoins (starting with USDC)" Source → |
Circle has not published fee amounts in these materials. We will not quote a number until we can measure one on public mainnet.
Verified on 11.09.2026
What happens on the network
Circle has published an ARC token whitepaper describing "the native coordination asset of the Arc network": staking and delegation toward a proof-of-stake transition, governance and fee mechanics. The same page states that no ARC token has been launched, any discussion is "merely exploratory", and "no decision has been made" on whether it will exist. Fees stay in USDC either way.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| ARC whitepaper | "No ARC token has been launched, and any discussion of a potential ARC token is merely exploratory" Source → |
No distribution, airdrop or eligibility rules have been announced. Secondary sources quote supply and presale figures from the whitepaper; we do not repeat them here because Circle's own page labels the token exploratory.
Testnet guides circulate in airdrop communities. We have not verified official participation terms and do not treat testnet activity as a path to any reward.
Verified on 11.09.2026
Sources
What the data does not cover yet
Yieldo tracks withdrawal fees and network status across exchanges every 30 minutes. As soon as an exchange opens the Arc network for deposits or withdrawals, its fee, minimum and open/closed status will appear on this page without any edit from us.
Until then there is nothing to click here — deliberately. We do not link to exchanges "in advance" for a network they have not enabled.
Verified on 11.09.2026