USDC acts as the native gas for the Arc mainnet, a financial platform providing EVM compatibility and deterministic sub-second finality. BlackRock, Visa, Mastercard, and the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation serve as the network's founding validators for the Layer 1 blockchain. More than 190 institutional and ecosystem builders are active on the platform, which integrates the Circle Agent Stack and StableFX to facilitate onchain foreign exchange and tokenized assets.

Aave deployed Aave V4 on the chain on September 16, utilizing a Core Hub and two separate markets for real-world financial flows. One market supports assets including EURC, WETH, and cirBTC, while a dedicated forex market pairs USDC and EURC for stablecoin borrowing. The network includes a full-stack of infrastructure including developer tooling, custody, and compliance services available from the start.