Circle launched the public testnet for Arc, a Layer‑1 blockchain network designed as an economic operating system for the internet.
The testnet is open to developers and enterprises, offering predictable dollar‑based fees, sub‑second transaction finality, opt‑in privacy, and integration with Circle’s full‑stack platform. Arc is EVM‑compatible and uses USDC as its native gas token.
More than 100 participants have joined the testnet, including capital‑markets firms Apollo, BNY, ICE, State Street, banks and asset managers such as BlackRock, Fiserv, Mastercard, Visa, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, Deutsche Bank, and technology partners like AWS and Anthropic. Stablecoin issuers such as Forte Securities, Avenia, JPYC Inc., BDACS, Juno, Coins.PH, and Stablecorp are also active.
Circle outlined a governance model that will evolve into a distributed, community‑driven system, with plans to expand validator participation and establish transparent governance frameworks. The company aims to launch the Arc mainnet in 2026.
The testnet launch follows Circle’s IPO, which raised approximately $1.2 billion, and the company’s collaboration with AI firm Anthropic to integrate AI‑powered developer tools. The testnet has not yet been reviewed by the New York Department of Financial Services.
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