Circle is considering the introduction of a native token on its Arc blockchain, which would enable incentives, governance, security, and utility functions. According to Chief Executive Jeremy Allaire, the company is 'continuing to explore' how a token could support these aspects, but no specific details or timeline have been provided.
The Arc blockchain, built by Circle, is an open and EVM-compatible Layer-1 network designed for stablecoin-native finance, enterprise payments, tokenization, and high-performance applications. The mainnet is scheduled to launch in 2026 under a Proof-of-Authority (PoA) consensus model, which may transition to a more decentralized system over time.
A native token would likely supplement the network's economic model, supporting validator incentives and governance voting if Arc transitions away from PoA. However, launching such a token would introduce standard blockchain risks, including price volatility, regulatory scrutiny, and security considerations.