The Rollup Rachel from Circle: Why Stablecoin-as-Gas Changes Everything
Oct 29, 2025
In this discussion, Rachel Mayer, a fintech and crypto builder at Circle, shares insights on the innovative Arc platform. She explains why Arc is structured as a Layer 1 instead of Layer 2, enhancing gas fee predictability and privacy. Rachel dives into the concept of stablecoin-as-gas, which enables instant settlement, making blockchain adoption easier for institutions. With over 100 launch partners, she highlights the significant shift in market dynamics as $8 trillion daily FX transactions start flowing on-chain, transforming liquidity and user experiences.
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From Trader To Circle Builder
- Rachel joined Circle after her startup Trigger was acquired and has built USDC for eight years.
- She frames Arc as the continuation of Circle's mission to enable frictionless exchange of value.
Layer One Built For Money
- Arc is a purpose-built Layer 1 optimized for stablecoins, privacy, and instant settlement finality.
- Rachel says this design solves unpredictable gas, volatile fees, and unclear settlement found in L2s.
Simplicity Wins For Institutions
- Banks and corporates find L2 designs (sequencers, provers) confusing and risky for accounting and treasury.
- Rachel says Arc's simpler L1 model eases adoption by giving CFOs clearer operational primitives.