Circle Raises $222M for Arc Token Sale at $3B Valuation

Circle has raised $222 million in a presale of the ARC token, the native asset of its new Arc blockchain network, at a valuation of $3 billion, according to a CNBC report on Monday.

The fundraising round includes participation from major Wall Street institutions and crypto-native firms, including BlackRock, Apollo Funds, a16z crypto, ARK Invest, Bullish, Haun Ventures, Intercontinental Exchange and Standard Chartered Ventures. This marks Circle's most significant expansion beyond its core stablecoin business and payments infrastructure, as the company pushes deeper into building blockchain rails for institutional finance. The ARC token will power the Arc network, which aims to provide a permissioned blockchain platform for regulated financial institutions.

For cryptocurrency and digital asset traders, this development signals growing institutional interest in blockchain infrastructure beyond simple trading and custody. The involvement of traditional finance giants like BlackRock and Apollo validates the thesis that tokenization and blockchain-based settlement systems are becoming mainstream. However, traders should note that the ARC token is not yet publicly tradable, and its eventual listing and liquidity will be key factors to watch. For current pricing on major cryptocurrencies, check NowPrice's crypto page.

Looking ahead, market participants will focus on the Arc network's mainnet launch timeline and the token's eventual exchange listings. The whitepaper released Monday outlines ARC's role in the network, and further details on tokenomics and distribution could impact sentiment. Additionally, Circle's move intensifies competition with other institutional blockchain projects, such as JPMorgan's Onyx and the Canton Network, making the race to build the dominant institutional blockchain a key narrative for 2026.