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Circle Launches Public Testnet for Arc Payment-Focused Blockchain

Circle reports over 100 major financial and fintech firms, including BlackRock, Visa, Goldman Sachs, and Mastercard, joining Arc’s public testnet to explore blockchain payment innovations.

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Fact Check
The assessment is "likely_true" with high confidence based on strong, direct evidence from Circle's official developer tools. The existence of an "Arc Testnet" option on Circle's official testnet faucet is primary evidence that a public testnet is live and accessible. A public faucet's purpose is to allow developers to acquire test assets to interact with a network, which is a core component of a public testnet launch.This conclusion is reached despite some conflicting information from other primary sources. Specifically, Circle's Q2 2025 earnings reports and several press releases contain forward-looking statements that the Arc testnet is "expected to launch in the fall." This contradiction can be reasonably explained. The live faucet represents the current technical reality (a 'soft launch'), whereas the forward-looking statements may refer to a more formal, marketing-focused 'official launch' event planned for a later date. It is common practice in software development for technical infrastructure to be live for developers before a general public announcement.Therefore, the direct, functional evidence of the live faucet is weighted more heavily than the potentially outdated or business-centric timelines mentioned in financial reports. The network is publicly accessible for its intended purpose (development and testing), which validates the statement.
Summary

Circle Internet Group Inc. announced strong early adoption of its Arc Layer-1 blockchain public testnet, with participation from over 100 global financial and fintech leaders such as BlackRock, Visa, Goldman Sachs, and Mastercard. Arc is designed for large-scale financial and enterprise applications, featuring USD-denominated billing, sub-second settlements, privacy controls, and stablecoin-based payment settlement. Visa is piloting cross-border stablecoin payments, while BlackRock is testing on-chain foreign exchange. This initiative is part of Circle’s effort to expand institutional adoption of blockchain payment systems and enhance the role of its USDC stablecoin in global finance.

Terms & Concepts
  • Arc Blockchain: A payment-focused blockchain developed by Circle, offering rapid settlement, currency billing options, privacy controls, and integration with Circle’s payment network.
  • Stablecoin Settlement: A transaction process leveraging stablecoins for faster, potentially cheaper, and more transparent payment settlement across borders.
  • On-chain FX: Foreign exchange transactions executed directly on a blockchain for improved speed, transparency, and efficiency.