Arc Mainnet Launch Expected in 2026, Testnet Already Active

Arc, a public Layer 1 blockchain aimed at institutional use, is set to launch its mainnet in the summer of 2026, according to Circle's Arc white paper. The testnet for Arc began operations in October 2025 and has processed 244.1 million transactions as of May 5, 2026. According to ChainCatcher, Arc is compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) and integrates USDC natively. It offers sub-second deterministic settlement, stablecoin-denominated gas fees, and configurable privacy features. Cross-chain transfers are facilitated through Circle's Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol (CCTP). The white paper also reveals that the initial supply of Arc's native token, ARC, is set at 10 billion tokens. Of this, 60% is allocated for ecosystem development, 25% is reserved for Circle, and 15% is designated as a long-term reserve.