Arc names MetaMask as default wallet for seamless onboarding

Arc, the EVM-compatible Layer-1 blockchain that uses USDC as its native gas token, has designated MetaMask as its default wallet for user and developer onboarding. The move pairs the most widely used self-custody wallet in crypto with a chain specifically designed to make stablecoin transactions feel as intuitive as swiping a debit card. The partnership means MetaMask will come pre-configured to support the Arc network across both its browser extension and mobile clients, complete with native USDC display and built-in bridge and swap functionality. What Arc is actually building Arc is linked to Circle, the company behind USDC, and it takes a fundamentally different approach to gas fees. Instead of requiring users to hold a volatile native token to pay for transactions, Arc lets them pay directly in USDC. On the testnet, which has been live since October 2025, transaction costs have averaged around $0.004. The chain finalizes transactions in under one second and runs a permissioned validator set, a design choice that signals clear ambitions toward institutional-grade applications. Mainnet launch is scheduled for September 16, 2026. Arc has already lined up an ecosystem roster that i...