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Circle just dropped a research paper that could reshape how transactions get processed on its Arc blockchain. The Arc Multi-Proposer Protocol, or AMP, introduces a new architecture designed to solve one of crypto’s most persistent headaches: who gets to decide the order of transactions, and who profits from that power.
The paper, published on arXiv on May 22, proposes a system where multiple dedicated proposers bundle transactions into payloads, replacing the traditional model where validators hold all the cards. Instead of letting a single gatekeeper decide which transactions go first, AMP spreads that responsibility across multiple parties with strict rules about ordering.
How AMP actually works
The protocol sits on top of Arc’s existing Malachite consensus engine, which already delivers sub-second finality. AMP doesn’t touch the underlying consensus mechanics.
Two features stand out. First, bounded inclusion guarantees: multiple proposers can ensure a transaction actually gets included in a block, rather than leaving users at the mercy of a single validator. Second, fixed and deterministic ordering of transactions, which removes the ambiguity that typically allows sophisticated actors to extract value from regular users.
The separation of transaction dissemination from consensus agreement is the key architectural choice here. By decoupling these two functions, AMP directly targets miner extractable value. The paper also outlines planned protections against private mempool exploits.
Daniel Cason, Gordon Liao, and other Circle researchers authored the work, with a companion blog post following on May 28.
Why developers should care
AMP takes a different approach by attacking the MEV problem at the infrastructure level. Instead of asking each application to build its own MEV protection, the protocol bakes fairness guarantees directly into the chain’s transaction processing layer.
This design philosophy aligns with Arc’s broader positioning as a chain built for stablecoin-native finance. Arc uses USDC as its native gas token, emphasizing predictable fees and enterprise-grade features.
Arc’s trajectory and market positioning
Arc’s public testnet went live on October 28, 2025, roughly two months after Circle first announced the blockchain on August 12 of that year. The chain is currently in its public testnet phase, with a mainnet beta expected later in 2026. Circle has said the protocol remains open for collaboration with design partners, suggesting AMP’s final implementation could evolve based on developer feedback before full deployment.
Circle raised $222 million in a presale for Arc tokens in May 2026, with the token carrying a fully diluted valuation of $3 billion.
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