SBI Group Validates Circle’s Arc Blockchain Amid Dual-Rail Strategy with Ripple
Circle launched its new USDC-focused Layer 1 blockchain, Arc, on September 16, 2026. The network features a stablecoin-based gas model and is backed by traditional finance institutions as founding validators, including SBI Group—a major shareholder in Ripple holding nearly $4 billion worth of XRP since 2016. SBI’s participation in Arc raises questions about its strategic alignment with both Ripple's XRP ecosystem and Circle’s USDC-based platform. The company is also involved in Japan’s only live XRP remittance corridor through SBI Ripple Asia, while recently becoming a regulated RLUSD distributor and founding validator for another stablecoin network. Arc aims to simplify institutional blockchain adoption by using USDC as its native gas token, offering sub-second settlement finality and integrated foreign-exchange tools. The launch coincides with growing interest in tokenized assets and evolving regulatory frameworks across major markets.
