Circle has officially launched the mainnet for its Arc blockchain, marking a significant expansion of its infrastructure beyond stablecoin issuance. The deployment went live on September 15, 2026, introducing a new layer for digital asset transactions and settlement.
Alongside the network launch, the company completed the genesis mint of 10 billion ARC tokens. This initial token generation event establishes the foundational supply for the newly operational blockchain ecosystem.
Key facts
- Circle debuted the Arc blockchain mainnet on September 15, 2026.
- The genesis mint for the network involved 10 billion ARC tokens.
- The launch represents a new infrastructure layer from the stablecoin issuer.
- The token supply was established concurrently with the mainnet go-live.
Why it matters
This move signals Circle’s strategic shift toward building broader blockchain infrastructure rather than focusing solely on payment rails. By introducing a native chain and token, the company aims to capture more value within the decentralized finance ecosystem and provide developers with a dedicated environment for building applications.