Circle launches Arc blockchain with over 100 applications live

BNY: BNY is a global custodian and financial services provider. It is live on or exploring Circle's Arc blockchain. BNY represents traditional banking custody services engaging with the new chain. ICE: ICE operates major exchanges and clearing houses in global markets. It participates as a founding validator for Circle's Arc Layer 1. ICE's inclusion reflects traditional exchange infrastructure providers entering the blockchain validator cohort. Aave: Aave is a decentralized finance protocol focused on lending and borrowing markets. It anchors credit markets on Circle's Arc blockchain. Aave's presence supports decentralized finance functionality alongside institutional validators. DTCC: DTCC is a post-trade market infrastructure provider handling clearing, settlement, and custody. It acts as a founding validator on Circle's Arc blockchain. DTCC's role brings established financial market infrastructure expertise to the permissioned validator set. HSBC: HSBC is a leading international bank with extensive global operations. It is live on or exploring Arc for its operations. HSBC adds major global banking participation to the ecosystem. Visa: Visa operates a leading global payments network connecting consumers, businesses, and financial institutions. It serves as one of the founding validators for Circle's Arc Layer 1 blockchain alongside other traditional finance entities. Visa's involvement highlights the integration of established payment players into the new stablecoin-focused chain. Circle: Circle is a financial technology company focused on stablecoin issuance and payment solutions. In this development, Circle launched the public mainnet of its Arc Layer 1 blockchain optimized for stablecoin finance, with more than 100 applications and institutional partners active at launch. The company also minted its full opening supply of ARC tokens while stating this is not a commitment to a public launch. Galaxy: Galaxy provides digital asset services including trading and investment. It joins the founding validator set for Circle's Arc blockchain. Galaxy contributes its crypto-native expertise alongside traditional finance participants. Morpho: Morpho is a decentralized lending protocol optimizing interest rates and capital efficiency. It anchors credit markets on Arc. Morpho contributes DeFi lending capabilities to the chain's ecosystem. Uniswap: Uniswap is a leading decentralized exchange protocol for token trading. It supports trading activity on Circle's Arc blockchain. Uniswap enables decentralized trading features within the stablecoin-focused network. Worldpay: Worldpay, now part of Global Payments, delivers merchant acquiring and payment processing solutions. It joins the founding validators for Circle's Arc blockchain. Worldpay contributes payments infrastructure knowledge to the early network. BlackRock: BlackRock is a major global asset manager with a dedicated digital assets division. It participates as a founding validator on Circle's Arc blockchain to help secure the network from day one. BlackRock's global head of digital assets publicly endorsed purpose-built blockchains for accelerating digital asset adoption in stablecoin and payment use cases. MoneyGram: MoneyGram offers cross-border payment and money transfer services. It participates as a founding validator on Arc. MoneyGram brings remittance and payments experience to the validator group. SBI Group: SBI Group is a Japanese financial services conglomerate with digital asset interests. It acts as a founding validator for Circle's Arc. SBI Group's involvement adds Asian financial market representation to the network. Mastercard: Mastercard provides global payment processing and technology services. It joins the founding validator group for Circle's Arc blockchain to support network security during the phased rollout. Its participation underscores broad institutional backing for Arc from the payments sector. State Street: State Street provides custody, asset management, and financial services worldwide. It is live on or exploring Circle's Arc. State Street brings institutional custody expertise to the blockchain. Robbie Mitchnick: Robbie Mitchnick serves as BlackRock’s global head of digital assets. He provided remarks on the launch of Circle's Arc, noting the potential of purpose-built blockchains for stablecoin and payment adoption at scale. Standard Chartered: Standard Chartered is an international bank with a focus on Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. It serves as a founding validator on Arc. The bank is part of the traditional finance group securing the network. Sumitomo Corporation: Sumitomo Corporation is a major Japanese general trading company with diversified investments. It serves as a founding validator on Arc. Sumitomo's participation brings corporate and industrial sector perspectives to blockchain validation. Validator Model: Arc operates with a permissioned validator set that includes both traditional finance institutions and DeFi protocols in a phased rollout, with exploration of a shift to proof of stake planned for 2027. Development Timeline: Circle progressed from announcing Arc in August 2025 through public testnet in October 2025 to mainnet launch, with the testnet processing hundreds of millions of transactions prior to going live. Blockchain Architecture: Circle designed Arc as an EVM-compatible Layer 1 with gas payable in USDC and deterministic final settlement in under a second.