Circle: Raises $222M for Arc Blockchain at $3B Valuation

Circle just closed a $222M token presale at a $3B valuation for its new layer-1 blockchain Arc, led by Andreessen Horowitz with BlackRock and Apollo participating. The move marks the latest step in Wall Street's direct entry into token issuance, following Circle's public listing and years of stablecoin infrastructure work. Institutional demand for on-chain assets continues to accelerate as firms seek programmable settlement rails beyond traditional custody models.