Arc Launches Testnet Campaign for Layer 1 Blockchain Backed by Circle, USDC Issuer

Airdrop Arc Overview

Arc is a Layer 1 blockchain developed by Circle, the issuer of USDC stablecoin, positioning itself as an "Economic OS for the internet." The platform aims to bridge tokenized assets with real economic activity, supporting on-chain lending, capital markets, foreign exchange, and cross-border payments. Arc is EVM-compatible, features stable gas fees denominated in USDC, offers sub-1-second finality, and integrates directly with Circle's infrastructure. The project is led by Jeremy Allaire and has raised over $1.5 billion from major investors including BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, and HSBC. The testnet campaign encourages users to experiment with the platform's features, including smart contract deployment, token issuance, cross-chain operations, and decentralized application interactions.

How to join the Arc airdrop?

Step 1: Obtain Testnet Tokens

Visit the faucet at faucet.circle.com, enter your wallet address, and click "Send 10 USDC/EURC" to receive testnet tokens for platform experimentation.

Step 2: Explore Arc Testnet Features

Access testnet.arcscan.app and perform the following activities:

• Connect your wallet and add the Arc Testnet network
• Deploy and test smart contracts
• Issue tokens for swap testing
• Execute cross-chain transactions
• Verify the wallet experience using USDC as gas

These activities allow users to experience Arc's key features, including its stable fee design where USDC serves as the gas token, creating a predictable and low-cost transaction model. The platform's instant finality mechanism ensures transactions are confirmed in under 1 second with immediate irreversibility, eliminating uncertainty present in probabilistic finality chains. Arc also supports optional privacy for on-chain transactions with selective disclosure capabilities, balancing data security with auditability and compliance requirements.

Step 3: Interact with Testnet dApps

Users should engage with various decentralized applications available on the testnet, including those listed on the official platform as well as additional dApps such as:

• Thirdweb

• Surtlayer

• Other ecosystem applications

Participation across multiple dApps may increase potential airdrop eligibility. The testnet requires no mandatory KYC and uses EVM-compatible wallets. Users need to maintain sustained activity and genuine platform usage to demonstrate engagement with the network's features.

Conclusion

Arc's testnet campaign provides the community with an opportunity to explore a Layer 1 blockchain backed by Circle's substantial infrastructure and institutional support. For participants, this represents a potential airdrop opportunity while testing features like USDC-denominated gas fees and instant finality. The project's backing from major financial institutions and its focus on connecting tokenized assets with real economic activity positions the testnet as a notable opportunity for early users to engage with the platform during its development phase.