Circle, a prominent stablecoin issuer, has announced the launch of its new Layer-1 blockchain, Arc, poised to transform the landscape of cryptocurrency payments and capital market applications. Circle’s second-quarter 2025 report revealed a strong 53% revenue growth year over year, further solidified by a remarkable 90% increase in USDC stablecoin transactions. This strategic move comes alongside the launch of Arc, which aims to provide a scalable, reliable foundation for crypto payment and settlement processes. Arc will be EVM-compatible with transaction fees settled in USDC, aiming for sub-second finality and featuring user-controlled privacy options. The integration of Arc into Circle’s existing platform and services ensures seamless interoperability with various partner blockchains. Circle has outlined its plans to launch a public test network for Arc this fall.