Circle Internet Group has raised $222 million in a presale for its new Arc blockchain token, valuing the network at $3 billion. The round was led by Andreessen Horowitz with a $75 million commitment, joined by BlackRock, Apollo Global Management, and Intercontinental Exchange. The raise is one of the highest-profile token presales tied to a publicly listed crypto company, and Circle shares (CRCL) surged nearly 5% in premarket trading to $116, after closing at $113.67 on Thursday.
The backers
Andreessen Horowitz put in the biggest check at $75 million. BlackRock and Apollo Global Management — both institutional heavyweights — joined alongside Intercontinental Exchange, the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange. The participation of traditional finance giants signals growing appetite for blockchain infrastructure built specifically for institutional use.
Inside Arc's design
Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire described Arc as a blockchain 'operating system' for institutional finance. It's built to handle financial contracts, governance systems, and AI-driven economic applications — not just stablecoin transfers. Circle also unveiled developer tools for building AI agents that can handle payments and online transactions using USDC. That's a direct play into the intersection of crypto and artificial intelligence.
Token split
Arc has a total token supply of 10 billion. 60% will go to developers, contributors, and network participants. Circle controls 25% of the supply, and 15% is reserved for long-term development. The allocation leans heavily toward community and ecosystem growth, which is typical for new layer-1 projects but notable given Circle's public company status.
The raise lands as U.S. lawmakers advance stablecoin legislation — the GENIUS Act and the STABLE Act are both moving through Congress. Circle, already a dominant issuer of USDC, is positioning Arc as the settlement layer for regulated digital dollars. The timing isn't coincidental: a regulatory framework could open the door for institutional players to deploy capital onchain. The GENIUS Act and STABLE Act haven't passed yet, but the momentum is real.
What's next? Circle will likely begin rolling out the Arc testnet in the coming months, with a mainnet launch expected before the end of 2026. The presale closes a significant funding round for a company that's already public and profitable — a rarity in crypto infrastructure.
