Arc's "Economic OS" Launches Public Testnet, Partnering with Over 100 Institutions
- Circle's Arc blockchain launches public testnet with 100+ institutions including Visa, HSBC, and BlackRock. - Designed as an "Economic OS," Arc enables instant settlements, privacy controls, and compliance-driven stablecoin ecosystems using USDC as gas token. - Partners like BNY Mellon and AWS test infrastructure supporting tokenized assets, AI-driven payments, and global market integration across four continents. - Circle emphasizes regulatory alignment (e.g., EU MiCA) and plans to transition Arc to com
Circle's Arc Blockchain Launches Public Testnet with Over 100 Institutional Collaborators
Circle Internet Group has unveiled the public testnet for Arc, its newly created Layer-1 blockchain aimed at optimizing financial solutions for institutions. This network, which utilizes
Arc brands itself as an "Economic Operating System" for the web, providing near-instant transaction completion, customizable privacy settings, and seamless integration with Circle’s stablecoin ecosystem. The blockchain is built to accommodate a range of applications, including lending, capital markets, currency exchange, and international payments, all with the goal of streamlining institutional processes, as highlighted in a
The testnet launch features involvement from top capital markets entities like Apollo, BNY Mellon, and State Street, along with banks such as Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs. Technology collaborators including AWS, Cloudflare, and Mastercard are also evaluating Arc’s framework, which is designed to support agentic AI for instant value exchange. Notably, Arc’s development plan includes support for fiat-backed stablecoins, tokenized stocks, and money market products, with digital asset providers from Australia, Brazil, and Japan joining the testnet, as reported by
A standout feature is Arc’s use of stablecoins for transaction fees, leveraging USDC to enable fast and affordable transfers. This model fits with Circle’s broader mission to drive stablecoin integration into mainstream finance, especially as regulations like the EU’s MiCA take shape. The company also noted collaborations with custodians such as BitGo and Taurus, reinforcing Arc’s emphasis on institutional-grade security and regulatory compliance, as mentioned in the MarketScreener report.
Circle’s move to public testnet comes after several months of development and a private pilot phase with selected partners. The firm has invested heavily in developer resources, with wallet providers like MetaMask and infrastructure services such as
Looking forward,
Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.
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