Circle gives its Bitcoin-backed token one balance across Ethereum and Arc
Circle integrated its Bitcoin-backed token cirBTC into Gateway on October 23, 2026, enabling holders to maintain a single balance across Ethereum and Arc blockchains.
The expansion also brings the EURC stablecoin to the platform, which is now supported on Ethereum, Arc, Avalanche, Base, Solana, and World Chain. Gateway maintains separate balances for each asset, transferring cirBTC by burning it on the source network and minting it on the destination network without converting to USDC or transferring native Bitcoin.
Fast access with fallback option
Circle advertises cross-chain access in under 500 milliseconds after deposit finality, though this excludes initial funding wait time and is not guaranteed. Ethereum deposits typically take 13 to 19 minutes before Gateway updates the balance. A separate seven-day withdrawal option allows holders to reclaim funds directly from the Gateway Wallet contract without relying on Circle's API.
Gateway keeps a separate balance for each asset. A cirBTC transfer burns the token on the source network and mints cirBTC on the destination; it neither converts the balance into USDC nor transfers native Bitcoin.
Access and costs
Gateway integration is permissionless with no sign-up required, though accessing cirBTC through Circle Mint requires qualified business status. Withdrawing cirBTC leaves holders with the token, while redeeming it for native Bitcoin uses a separate Mint process. Gateway fees for cirBTC and EURC are waived on Arc at launch, with a one-basis-point rate elsewhere, plus additional gas and forwarding charges.
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