Circle Internet Group has successfully raised $222 million in a presale for its new Arc blockchain token, demonstrating strong institutional demand for blockchain infrastructure designed for mainstream finance. According to reports from CNBC, the raise values the Arc network at $3 billion and signals growing institutional interest in blockchain systems beyond traditional payments networks. The filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on May 11 reveals that Circle agreed to sell 740 million ARC tokens to institutional investors at a price of $0.30 per token.
The token sale attracted backing from major financial and crypto firms, with Andreessen Horowitz leading the round with a $75 million investment. Other notable participants include BlackRock, Apollo Global Management, Intercontinental Exchange, SBI Group, Standard Chartered Ventures, ARK Invest, and other institutional investors. As reported by CNBC, Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire described Arc as designed to become a blockchain 'operating system' for institutional finance, comparing it to the importance of cloud computing and mobile operating systems.
The Arc token will support financial contracts, governance systems, and AI-driven economic applications beyond stablecoin transfers, according to Circle's announcement. According to CNBC, Circle said 60% of Arc's 10 billion token supply will go to developers, contributors and network participants, while 25% will be controlled by Circle and 15% is reserved for long-term network development. This expansion allows Circle to gain more control over its ecosystem infrastructure while opening new revenue streams from validator operations and transaction fees.
Circle shares rose more than 5% in pre-market trading to $123.26 following the announcement, according to Yahoo Finance data. The token sale marks one of the highest-profile presales tied to a publicly listed crypto company, arriving as U.S. lawmakers advance stablecoin legislation including the GENIUS Act and STABLE Act. The filing includes a lock-up period where investors won't be able to sell, transfer or move their ARC tokens for at least one year after Arc switches to a Proof-of-Stake or delegated Proof-of-Stake model.
