Bitcoin comes to Arc

TL;DR: Arc is live on Garden, native BTC and assets across 15+ chains can now move into USDC on Arc and back out, trustlessly, in seconds. Developers get the route through the Garden API.

Say hello to Arc, the Layer 1 blockchain built by Circle. With this launch, you can swap Bitcoin and assets from any Garden supported chain into USDC on Arc, and bring them back whenever you want.

Why Arc?

Arc is Circle's answer to a question institutions have been asking for years. What would a blockchain look like if it were built for money first? The network uses USDC as its native gas token, so there's no volatile asset to hold just to pay fees. Transactions reach finality in under a second. Fees are predictable and dollar-denominated, and privacy controls are opt-in for institutions that need them.

BlackRock is expected to deploy its tokenized money market fund on Arc, and Circle is working with DTCC to bring custodied assets onchain starting in 2027.

Arc plugs directly into CCTP for native USDC movement across chains, Circle Gateway for unified balances, and the full Circle platform for minting, wallets, and on/offramps. This is where a large share of institutional stablecoin activity is headed.

One thing Arc doesn't have natively is Bitcoin. That's where we come in.

What's live now

Starting today, gardeners can swap into and out of Arc from every chain Garden supports. Native BTC on Bitcoin, cbBTC and stablecoins across EVM chains, SOL on Solana, and everything else on our supported list routes into USDC on Arc in one click.

Garden isn't limited to EVM chains. The same rails that bring Bitcoin to Arc also connect Solana, Starknet, Spark, and Lightning. A payment received on Lightning can settle as USDC on Arc. Funds on Solana can move to Arc without touching a centralized exchange. 

And this cuts both ways, native BTC to USDC on Arc, USDC on Arc back to native BTC, or any supported asset in between. One click, trustless, non-custodial. Your assets never leave your control.

For developers

Arc support is live across Garden's API and SDK from day one. If you're building a wallet, a payments product, or anything institutional on Arc, you can offer routes from Bitcoin and 14+ chains without writing a smart contract or managing liquidity. Request a quote, create an order, and Garden's solver network handles settlement.

A treasury product on Arc can accept funding in whatever the client holds. A client sends native BTC, one API call routes it into USDC on Arc, and the position is live on institutional rails.

Full integration docs are at garden.finance/docs, and if you need help getting set up, reach out.

How to Bridge to Arc

1. Connect your source chain wallet and your Arc wallet to the app.
2. Choose BTC on Bitcoin as the source. Choose USDC on Arc as the destination. Enter the amount.
3. Review the details and fees, click Swap, and track your transfer in real time on Garden Explorer.

Visit app.garden.finance and pick Arc as your destination.

FAQs

Is there an official Arc bridge?

Arc doesn't ship a native bridge for external assets. Circle's CCTP handles USDC movement between supported chains, and third-party bridges like Garden handle everything else, including Bitcoin, which CCTP doesn't cover.

What is the best bridge for Bitcoin to Arc?

Garden is currently the only bridge connecting native BTC to Arc. Swaps are atomic and non-custodial, settle in minutes, and don't involve wrapped intermediates at any step.

Can I bridge to Arc without KYC or an account?

Yes. Garden swaps are wallet to wallet with no signup, no KYC, and no account. Connect, swap, done.

Do I need USDC to pay gas before I can use Arc?

Yes, Arc fees are paid in USDC, but a swap through Garden lands USDC directly in your Arc wallet, so you can use Garden to fund your account on Arc with gas. 

Can I move USDT or other stablecoins into Arc?

Yes. USDT on Ethereum, USDG on Robinhood Chain, or any supported asset can be routed into USDC on Arc via a single Garden swap, with the conversion handled by solvers at the quoted rate.

Is bridging to Arc safe?

Garden swaps settle through Hashed Timelock Contracts, so funds are either delivered or refunded automatically, with no custodian in the middle. Verify you're on app.garden.finance and start with a small test amount if it's your first swap.

Can I bridge out of Arc back to Bitcoin or Solana?

Yes. Every Garden route is bidirectional. USDC on Arc moves back to native BTC, SOL, or any supported asset using the same atomic process.

Can exchanges or apps offer Arc deposits from Bitcoin?

Yes. The Garden API lets any wallet, exchange, or app quote and execute BTC to Arc routes programmatically without holding user funds or running liquidity.