BlackRock, Visa and Mastercard Back Circle Arc Launch

Circle Internet Group has unveiled a heavyweight group of founding validators for its Arc blockchain ahead of the network’s September 16 mainnet launch, giving investors a new reason to look beyond the company’s mixed second-quarter results.

The validator cohort includes BlackRock, Visa, Mastercard, DTCC, Galaxy, Global Payments, Intercontinental Exchange, MoneyGram, SBI Group, Standard Chartered, and Sumitomo Corporation.

BlackRock managed $15.3 trillion in assets at the end of the second quarter, underscoring the institutional weight behind the launch.

Circle shares rose after its results as investors focused on Arc’s potential, USDC’s growing transaction share, and the company’s newly approved national trust bank.

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Arc Attracts Financial Heavyweights

Arc is Circle’s Layer-1 blockchain designed for stablecoin payments, tokenized assets, and institutional settlement. The network is operating in a private mainnet with more than 100 institutional and ecosystem builders before its confirmed public launch on September 16.

Circle said its validators will help secure the network while supporting the operational and compliance standards expected of financial infrastructure.

BlackRock, DTCC, Galaxy, Global Payments, ICE, Mastercard, MoneyGram, SBI Group, Standard Chartered, Sumitomo Corporation, and Visa join Circle as founding validators; major global financial institutions advancing integrations, joining more than 100 ecosystem and institutional…

— Jeremy Allaire – jerallaire.arc (@jerallaire) August 5, 2026

BlackRock is also expected to deploy its BUIDL tokenized money market fund on Arc, enabling investors to subscribe, redeem, and use fund assets within a single onchain environment.

“Purpose-built rails like Arc can support faster settlement, improved collateral mobility, and broader institutional adoption of digital assets,” BlackRock digital assets head Robert Mitchnick said in Circle’s announcement.

Circle is working separately with DTCC to support tokenization of DTC-custodied assets on Arc, beginning in the second half of 2027.

Circle Delivers Mixed Q2 Results

The company reported second-quarter earnings of $0.18 per share, beating the $0.16 consensus estimate.

However, revenue and reserve income of approximately $701 million missed market expectations and increased only modestly from $694 million in the first quarter.

Q2 results are out.

→ Arc Mainnet launches September 16.

→ Founding validators joining Circle include BlackRock, DTCC, Galaxy, Global Payments, ICE, Mastercard, MoneyGram, SBI Group, Standard Chartered, Sumitomo Corporation, and Visa.

→ We received our federal trust bank… pic.twitter.com/3ytxQ35SG8

— Circle (@circle) August 5, 2026

Adjusted EBITDA declined sequentially from $151 million to $143 million, while USDC circulation fell from $77 billion at the end of March to $73.3 billion in June.

Quarterly onchain transaction volume also dropped to $14.8 trillion from $21.5 trillion.

Still, Circle said USDC captured nearly 70% of stablecoin transaction volume in June, citing Visa Onchain Analytics.

Its Circle Payments Network reached an annualized transaction volume of $14.7 billion, up 76% quarter over quarter, according to its Q2 report.

What Comes Next for CRCL

The September launch will test whether institutional participation can turn Arc from a compelling infrastructure story into a meaningful revenue engine.

Successful adoption could diversify Circle beyond reserve income, which remains sensitive to USDC circulation and interest rates.

CRCL Q2 earnings are really mixed.

On‑chain transaction volume spiked 151%, yet USDC circulation dropped quarter‑over‑quarter. Falling reserve yield dragged top‑line revenue, missing Wall‑street estimates for the second quarter in a row.

Profit looks good mostly due to last… pic.twitter.com/RTgMjCcN9A

— Treven (@wEj5IgTWvN31314) August 6, 2026

Circle’s federal regulatory position may strengthen that pitch. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency approved Circle National Trust in July, enabling federally regulated digital-asset custody and potential future management of USDC reserves.

Risks remain. Distribution expenses absorb a large share of reserve income, competition is intensifying, and Arc must prove it can generate sustainable fees.

For CRCL, September 16 is therefore more than a product launch: it is the first major test of whether Circle can evolve from a stablecoin issuer into broader financial infrastructure.

$15.3T BlackRock Joins Visa and Mastercard to Validate Circle’s Arc Blockchain: What’s Next for CRCL

Arc Attracts Financial Heavyweights

Circle Delivers Mixed Q2 Results

What Comes Next for CRCL

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