@Aster_DEX, the exchange behind $ASTER, now runs Bitcoin, Ether and Solana perpetual futures quoted in $USDC and backed by USDC deposited on @arc. Arc says this makes the stablecoin a trading
@Aster_DEX, the exchange behind $ASTER, now runs Bitcoin, Ether and Solana perpetual futures quoted in $USDC and backed by USDC deposited on @arc. Arc says this makes the stablecoin a trading and margin asset on Aster for the first time.
The new markets cover $BTC, $ETH and $SOL perpetuals. Traders post USDC as margin and the contracts are priced in the same stablecoin, which removes the need to hold a separate collateral asset for these pairs.
Aster has accepted USDC deposits and withdrawals on Arc since the chain launched on September 16. Aster said its perpetual market supports USDC as a deposit and withdrawal tool, and the integration has been in effect since Arc went live. The USDC-quoted perps are the next step in that integration.
Aster is a decentralized exchange for perpetual and spot trading. Its Pro Mode offers 24/7 stock perpetuals, Hidden Orders and grid trading across BNB Chain, Ethereum, Solana and Arbitrum. Arc adds another settlement venue to that multichain footprint.
The launch follows a similar move by a rival. Extended shifted its settlement infrastructure from Starknet to Arc on October 22, carrying approximately $120 million in total value locked with it. On Arc, Extended accepts native USDC as its main collateral and cirBTC as its Bitcoin collateral asset.
The change came at a cost to one stablecoin. USDT and wBTC are not supported on Arc , so Extended users holding them had to convert or withdraw beforehand.
Arc is Circle's own blockchain. Circle announced the public mainnet launch of Arc as an open Layer 1 blockchain built for financial markets, real-time money movement and agentic economic activity. Fees on the network are paid in USDC, with no volatile native token required. Circle has also pitched the chain to derivatives builders. Its launch post says builders can use Arc to create perpetual futures markets centered on stablecoin pairs.
Two perps venues building on Arc within days of each other points to early demand for USDC-margined derivatives on the chain. It is too early to say how much volume the new Aster markets will attract, and no trading figures have been published for them.
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