Circle has secured $222 million in a token presale tied to its Arc blockchain project, according to a CNBC report cited by CoinDesk. The funding round reportedly values Arc at nearly $3 billion and highlights rising institutional interest in blockchain infrastructure focused on stablecoins and tokenized finance.
Major financial firms including BlackRock, Apollo, and Bullish participated in the presale. Their involvement signals growing confidence in blockchain networks designed for enterprise and institutional use.
Circle Expands Beyond USDC
Circle is best known as the issuer of the USDC stablecoin. However, the company is now pushing deeper into blockchain infrastructure with Arc, an enterprise-focused Layer-1 network.
Circle launched Arc’s public testnet in October 2025. The company described the platform as an open blockchain built for developers and businesses moving financial activity onchain. More than 100 firms from the payments, finance, and technology sectors joined the early testing phase.
Arc aims to support several blockchain-based financial services, including:
- Stablecoin payments
- Tokenized assets
- Programmable finance applications
- Institutional settlement systems
Earlier reports also linked companies such as Visa, AWS, Goldman Sachs, and BlackRock to Arc’s testing efforts. Therefore, Circle appears focused on attracting traditional financial institutions instead of relying only on crypto-native users.
Native Token Plans Fuel Investor Interest
Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire previously confirmed that the company is considering a native token for Arc. The token could eventually support governance functions, network incentives, and a future proof-of-stake system.
In addition, Circle has reportedly targeted 2026 for Arc’s mainnet beta launch.
The latest fundraising round could help Circle strengthen its position as more than just a stablecoin issuer. Many institutions now view stablecoins as practical tools for payments, collateral management, and transaction settlement.
The biggest challenge for Circle will be turning institutional enthusiasm into actual blockchain activity once Arc launches publicly.
If Arc gains traction, it could become a major growth driver alongside USDC. However, if adoption remains slow, the project’s $3 billion valuation may test how much traditional finance is truly willing to invest in blockchain infrastructure before mainstream demand fully develops.
