Circle launched the public testnet for Arc, a layer-1 blockchain network aiming to bring global financial infrastructure onchain. Over 100 major companies, including BlackRock and Visa, are participating in the rollout. Arc offers sub-second finality, low fees, and privacy controls, integrating with Circle’s USDC stablecoin and supporting various financial applications.
Major institutions like BNY Mellon and Mastercard have joined Circle’s Arc testnet, along with global payment firms like FIS and Paysafe. Arc’s architecture connects local markets worldwide, offering infrastructure for traditional financial institutions and Web3-native projects. The network also supports stablecoins, tokenized funds, and FX liquidity, with issuers from seven countries participating.
Circle’s Arc ecosystem includes partnerships with developer tools like MetaMask and infrastructure providers like Fireblocks. AI integration with Anthropic’s Claude Agent SDK is also planned. The network aims to connect every local market to the global economy, providing enterprise-grade infrastructure for companies of all types to build on.
Circle plans to transition Arc into a community-governed network, expanding validator participation and establishing transparent governance. The network is set to use USDC as its native gas token, with plans to build private stablecoins on Arc. CEO Jeremy Allaire envisions Arc as a platform for companies to build on enterprise-grade network infrastructure.

Read more at Cointelegraph: Circle Launches Arc Testnet With BlackRock, Goldman, Visa, Mastercard