Circle deploys $649M USDC and $7M EURC on Arc blockchain

EURC: EURC is Circle's euro-backed stablecoin that extends its regulated digital currency offerings to the eurozone and international markets. It has been deployed on Circle's Arc chain alongside USDC, enabling euro-denominated activities and cross-currency settlement within the new network's ecosystem. USDC: USDC is Circle's flagship USD-backed stablecoin designed for digital payments and onchain finance. It is natively integrated into Circle's newly launched Arc blockchain, where it functions as the gas token for transactions and already supports substantial liquidity and applications from day one of mainnet. Circle: Circle Internet Group is a financial technology company and major issuer of regulated stablecoins. It recently launched its own EVM-compatible Layer 1 blockchain called Arc, purpose-built for stablecoin payments, tokenized assets, and financial markets, with USDC serving as the native gas token. This development directly advances the company's vertical integration strategy by controlling its own blockchain infrastructure rather than relying solely on third-party networks. Blockchain Launch: Circle's Arc mainnet launched publicly on September 16, 2026, as an EVM-compatible Layer 1 optimized for stablecoin finance with sub-second finality and USDC gas fees. Vertical Integration: The Arc launch marks Circle's strategic shift toward owning its blockchain infrastructure to support its stablecoins, payments network, and related services in a unified environment. Institutional Adoption: Arc debuted with participation from major traditional finance institutions acting as founding validators, alongside integrations with DeFi protocols such as Aave, Morpho, and Uniswap.