{"id":32216,"date":"2026-06-12T12:01:53","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T12:01:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/?p=32216"},"modified":"2026-06-12T12:01:53","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T12:01:53","slug":"circle-secures-usdc-quantum-computing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/en\/circle-secures-usdc-quantum-computing","title":{"rendered":"Circle shields USDC against quantum computing with its new blockchain Arc"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-transparent ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Alternar tabla de contenidos\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #ffffff;color:#ffffff\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #ffffff;color:#ffffff\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/en\/circle-secures-usdc-quantum-computing\/#circle_and_its_new_blockchain_arc\" >Circle and its new blockchain Arc<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/en\/circle-secures-usdc-quantum-computing\/#what_is_circle_arc_and_why_is_it_different\" >What is Circle Arc and why is it different?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/en\/circle-secures-usdc-quantum-computing\/#how_crypto_wallet_security_works_today\" >How crypto wallet security works today<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/en\/circle-secures-usdc-quantum-computing\/#the_coming_threat_quantum_computing\" >The coming threat: quantum computing<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/en\/circle-secures-usdc-quantum-computing\/#what_arc_does_differently_from_day_one\" >What Arc does differently from day one<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/en\/circle-secures-usdc-quantum-computing\/#the_three-phase_roadmap\" >The three-phase roadmap<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/en\/circle-secures-usdc-quantum-computing\/#bitcoin_and_ethereum_are_also_in_the_crosshairs\" >Bitcoin and Ethereum are also in the crosshairs<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Tiempo de lectura:<\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 5<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutos<\/span><\/span><p>Current <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/en\/quote-cryptocurrencies\">cryptocurrencies<\/a> are protected with encryption systems that today&#8217;s computers cannot break. However, future quantum computers could indeed put them in check. Circle knows this and has designed its new blockchain,\u00a0<strong>Arc<\/strong>, to resist this threat from day one.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.circle.com\/blog\/introducing-arc-an-open-layer-1-blockchain-purpose-built-for-stablecoin-finance\">Circle<\/a>, widely known in the crypto ecosystem as the company behind the famous stablecoin\u00a0<strong>USD Coin (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/en\/buy\/usd-coin\">USDC<\/a>)<\/strong>, has made a monumental strategic leap. The company has officially launched\u00a0<strong>Arc<\/strong>, its own Layer 1 blockchain network (a native, independent infrastructure) designed specifically for the management of USDC and other stablecoins.<\/p>\n<p>This move goes far beyond launching a new product; it is about building the financial highways that will sustain the future of digital money at an institutional level. If today many users seek to\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/en\">buy USDT<\/a> or USDC<\/strong>\u00a0to protect their capital, Circle wants the ecosystem where these assets move to be the safest in the world.<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-32217 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1-21.jpg\" alt=\"bitnovo_usdc_stablecoin_blockchain\" width=\"948\" height=\"669\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1-21.jpg 948w, https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1-21-300x212.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1-21-768x542.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 948px) 100vw, 948px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"circle_and_its_new_blockchain_arc\"><\/span><strong>Circle and its new blockchain Arc<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Circle has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.circle.com\/pressroom\/circle-reports-first-quarter-2026-results\">decided<\/a> to make a historic leap by creating its own infrastructure:\u00a0<strong>Arc<\/strong>, an independent Layer 1 blockchain. Unlike traditional networks, Arc is designed specifically for institutional and financial use, using USDC itself to pay gas fees, avoiding the need to use volatile cryptocurrencies.<\/p>\n<p>The project launched its testnet version in October 2025 and, after a successful presale that raised $222 million, is preparing to launch its mainnet in the summer of 2026.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Introducing Arc, the home for stablecoin finance.<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/arc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@Arc<\/a> is an open Layer-1 blockchain purpose-built to drive the next chapter of financial innovation powered by stablecoins.<\/p>\n<p>Designed to provide an enterprise-grade foundation for payments, FX, and capital markets, Arc delivers\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Z8FHUls1xY\">pic.twitter.com\/Z8FHUls1xY<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Circle (@circle) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/circle\/status\/1955246636223135976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 12, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what_is_circle_arc_and_why_is_it_different\"><\/span><strong>What is Circle Arc and why is it different?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Circle Arc is an\u00a0<strong>\u00abEconomic Operating System\u00bb<\/strong>\u00a0developed for instant settlement of stablecoins and tokenized finance.<\/p>\n<p>The vision of Jeremy Allaire, CEO of Circle, is very clear: Arc was not born to compete in speed with networks like Solana, nor to be another version of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/en\/where-to-buy-ethereum\">Ethereum<\/a>. Its sole objective is to\u00a0<strong>\u00aboperate the real economy\u00bb<\/strong>\u00a0under a\u00a0<strong>\u00abregulation first\u00bb<\/strong>\u00a0approach, safely attracting capital from traditional banking and Wall Street.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-32218 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2-16.jpg\" alt=\"bitnovo_quantum_computing_blockchain\" width=\"612\" height=\"344\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2-16.jpg 612w, https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2-16-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 612px) 100vw, 612px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_crypto_wallet_security_works_today\"><\/span><strong>How crypto wallet security works today<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>To understand Arc&#8217;s great achievement, we must first look at how we protect our digital money today. Imagine that your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/en\/wallet\">wallet<\/a> is a digital safe and your private key is a unique, secret handwritten signature.<\/p>\n<p>When you decide to send funds to store in your wallet, every transaction you make requires your mandatory authorization. The process works very simply:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The order:<\/strong>You enter the amount and the destination address.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The signature:<\/strong>\u00a0When you press \u00absend\u00bb, your wallet automatically stamps that cryptographic digital signature on the operation.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Verification:<\/strong>\u00a0The network verifies it to approve the sending.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Breaking this process with current technology is impossible: a traditional computer would take thousands of years to guess your signature. That is why your assets are completely secure today.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"the_coming_threat_quantum_computing\"><\/span><strong>The coming threat: quantum computing<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/en\/can-quantum-computing-break-a-blockchain\">problem<\/a> is that future quantum computers will have radically different computing power. Such a machine could decipher that digital signature in seconds. And in the blockchain world, if someone duplicates your signature, they have irreversible control over all your funds.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Quantum computing introduces long-term risk for digital infrastructure, from wallet signatures to validator integrity and more.<\/p>\n<p>Circle\u2019s post-quantum whitepaper explores Arc\u2019s phased approach to resilience across:<\/p>\n<p>\u2192 USDC<br \/>\u2192 Smart contracts<br \/>\u2192 Validators<br \/>\u2192 Infrastructure\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/niZqxTnUvX\">pic.twitter.com\/niZqxTnUvX<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Arc (@arc) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/arc\/status\/2060376870198104148?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 29, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Although there is no concrete date for when this will become a real danger, the risk already exists today under the\u00a0<strong>\u00abharvest now, decrypt later\u00bb<\/strong>\u00a0strategy. This means that malicious actors could already be recording and storing today&#8217;s encrypted transactions to decrypt them in the future, when they have access to a powerful quantum computer. Therefore, protection cannot wait.<\/p>\n<p>To neutralize this danger before it happens, Circle has designed Arc with a\u00a0<strong>state-of-the-art quantum shield<\/strong>. From the launch of its mainnet this same 2026, the blockchain will allow the use of wallets equipped with post-quantum signature algorithms.<\/p>\n<p>By implementing this barrier, Arc ensures that only you can authorize your transfers, keeping your digital money ownership intact against upcoming technological advances.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what_arc_does_differently_from_day_one\"><\/span><strong>What Arc does differently from day one<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Unlike other blockchains, Arc includes\u00a0<strong>quantum resistance in its base design<\/strong>, not as a later upgrade. In practice, this means that users will be able to create their wallets by directly choosing a post-quantum signature method that future supercomputers will not be able to break.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-32219 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/3-21.jpg\" alt=\"bitnovo_quantum_resistance_blockchain\" width=\"612\" height=\"408\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/3-21.jpg 612w, https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/3-21-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 612px) 100vw, 612px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, Arc is capable of processing and finalizing a block in\u00a0<strong>less than one second<\/strong>. This millimetric speed not only streamlines the system but also drastically reduces the time window an attacker would have available to try to intercept an operation.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Future-proof security:<\/strong>Immune to quantum computing attacks from minute one.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sub-second settlement:<\/strong>\u00a0Its consensus engine allows definitive, ultra-fast transfers with no waiting.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Flexible privacy:<\/strong>\u00a0Offers options to protect balances and movements, allowing companies to comply with local regulations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"the_three-phase_roadmap\"><\/span><strong>The three-phase roadmap<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>To achieve this shielding without causing disruptions or forced migrations for businesses, Arc has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.arc.io\/?_gl=1*1qzfddv*_gcl_au*MTcwOTE1MjAzNi4xNzgxMDc5ODQ4*_ga*MTgzOTUxMjYxMi4xNzgxMDc5ODQ4*_ga_TFHGH9W48Q*czE3ODEwNzk4NDckbzEkZzEkdDE3ODEwNzk4NTAkajU3JGwwJGg0NDc3OTI2OTE.\">designed<\/a> an orderly protection plan that will be executed in three strategic stages:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Short term (Launch and privacy):<\/strong>The mainnet will be released this 2026, allowing optional creation of wallets with post-quantum signatures. Afterwards, private data protection will be activated. This guarantees that balances, transactions and recipient data travel under additional symmetric encryption. This prevents today&#8217;s confidential information from being stored and decrypted in the future.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Medium term (Infrastructure security):<\/strong>\u00a0In this phase, cloud servers, encrypted connections between nodes and hardware modules will be updated.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Long term (Validator reinforcement):<\/strong>\u00a0The final step will be to reinforce the validator layer, which are the institutional entities that confirm transactions. The risk here is already low, because Arc processes blocks in less than a second, leaving a window of barely 500 milliseconds for an attack attempt. However, since quantum signatures require more computing power, this upgrade will be done with rigorous testing so as not to sacrifice network speed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-32220 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/4-21.jpg\" alt=\"bitnovo_crypto_wallet_privacy\" width=\"612\" height=\"255\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/4-21.jpg 612w, https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/4-21-300x125.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 612px) 100vw, 612px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>With this strategy, Circle demonstrates that quantum resistance is not a distant research project or a theory for the future, but a\u00a0<strong>real, adaptable infrastructure<\/strong>\u00a0ready for organizations that decide to protect their assets before urgency becomes undeniable.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"bitcoin_and_ethereum_are_also_in_the_crosshairs\"><\/span><strong>Bitcoin and Ethereum are also in the crosshairs<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Circle&#8217;s move comes at a key global moment. A <a href=\"https:\/\/quantumai.google\/static\/site-assets\/downloads\/cryptocurrency-whitepaper.pdf\">report<\/a> from Google on quantum threats to traditional networks like Bitcoin and Ethereum has reopened the debate across the sector, pushing their developers to work on upgrade proposals.<\/p>\n<p>Although Arc is not the only project moving in this direction, it does stand out as one of the first institutional-level developments to build this resistance from the network&#8217;s foundation, seeking to standardize\u00a0<strong>post-quantum security<\/strong>\u00a0in decentralized finance.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-32221 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/5-21.jpg\" alt=\"bitnovo_subsecond_settlement_arc\" width=\"750\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/5-21.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/5-21-300x150.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>It is important to note that the quantum threat is neither immediate nor imminent, but digital financial assets are born with a clear vocation for permanence. Therefore, designing security with the next ten or twenty years in mind is not an alarmist stance, but a\u00a0<strong>reasonable and mature technical decision<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>As Arc approaches its mainnet launch, the market&#8217;s attention will be on Circle&#8217;s ability to execute this transition and on how traditional banking adopts an infrastructure that promises long-term protection against the so-called\u00a0<strong>\u00abQ-Day\u00bb<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Tiempo de lectura:<\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 5<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutos<\/span><\/span>Crypto wallets are protected with encryption that no one can break today. A quantum computer could change that. Circle has built Arc for when that moment comes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":32382,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[165],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32216","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cryptocurrencies"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32216","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32216"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32216\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32387,"href":"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32216\/revisions\/32387"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32382"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32216"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32216"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32216"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}