Circle has launched the public mainnet of Arc, its blockchain designed for payments, asset issuance and financial applications. The company says more than 100 applications and more than 100 institutional and ecosystem builders were involved at launch. Arc is integrated with Circle's existing products, including USDC, which the company says had more than $74 billion in circulation at the time.

Arc uses USDC to pay transaction fees, allowing users and developers to calculate costs in dollars without first acquiring a separate network token for gas. Circle also advertises transaction finality in less than a second. Those design choices aim to make the chain useful for frequent transfers and settlement, where uncertainty over execution time and fees can complicate business operations.

The launch is more than a standalone blockchain release for Circle. It creates a network where its stablecoin, payment tools and other services can be used together. Circle identifies banks, asset managers, exchanges, custodians and software companies among the initial participants. Opt-in privacy features are part of its stated roadmap, but Circle described broader availability of those tools as still in development at the mainnet launch.

Arc enters a crowded field of chains courting financial institutions. Having builders and validators in place on day one gives it an initial operating base, but does not itself establish sustained payment volume. Companies will need to judge whether the dollar-denominated fees, settlement speed and integration with USDC justify adding a new chain to their existing systems.