Circle to launch Arc mainnet with institutional validators

Circle has announced the launch of its Arc mainnet, a Layer 1 blockchain native to USDC, scheduled for September 16, 2026. The network aims to provide institutional-grade infrastructure, with founding validators including BlackRock, DTCC, Visa, Mastercard, and ICE. BlackRock plans to bring its $2.87 billion BUIDL fund to the network, while DTCC intends to tokenize assets on Arc starting in 2027.

In conjunction with this launch, edgeX and Circle have deepened their cooperation. Following the Arc mainnet launch, edgeX will serve as the primary platform for perpetual trading on the network. The partnership will focus on developing on-chain foreign exchange and global asset trading markets, including the provision of USD/JPY perpetual contracts. edgeX plans to launch over 150 perpetual contract markets covering commodities, crypto assets, and U.S. stocks.

The announcement has impacted the EDGE token, which saw a 28.2% price increase and a 445% surge in trading volume. Despite the rally, market data indicates significant profit-taking and aggressive selling on the perpetuals side.