You’ve moved USDC to Arc, the new L1 chain by Circle. Now you want to swap it for another token. There’s one thing to remember: keep some USDC for transaction fees.

Everything else is pretty simple. In this post, we'll show how to swap on Arc with Zerion.

What’s different about swapping on Arc

Arc is a new Layer-1 blockchain by Circle.

It's fully EVM-compatible, which means the experience is very close to Ethereum and other EVM chains.

However, a few things are different:

• Gas fees are in USDC. Check what remains after using Max as you need to keep some USDC for future transactions.
• Transactions are fast and final. It's a Layer-1 chains, so there is no period when transactions can be challenged. This is great for payments.
• Liquidity affects the quote. Arc is new and some liquidity pools can be shallow. This means the price can change fast. And also you might lose some value when swapping due to slippage.

How to swap on Arc with Zerion

Zerion compares available routes across decentralized exchanges, so you can get a quote directly in your wallet. You can also bridge to Arc and swap in the same transaction.

These steps follow Zerion’s swap flow and apply when Arc is available in the network picker.

In the Zerion web app

1. Open the Zerion web app and choose your wallet.
2. Click Swap and set the network to Arc.
3. Choose the token and amount under Pay with, then the token under Receive.
4. Check the exchange rate, network fee, price impact, and amount you’ll receive.
5. Approve token access if prompted, then click Sign and send.

In Zerion Wallet on mobile

On mobile, the process is equally straightforward.

1. Open Zerion Wallet
2. Tap Swap
3. Choose Arc, then set your Pay with and Receive tokens and amount.
4. Review the quote and approve token access if prompted.
5. Tap Send, then Confirm.

Always check the token’s contract address to make sure you're buying the one you want. Anyone can create a token with a familiar name.

Get ready to swap on Arc

Download Zerion for iOS, Android, or your browser, then check Swap for available Arc routes.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a special token for gas on Arc?

No. Gas is the network fee for processing your transaction, and Arc charges it in USDC. Leave a small USDC balance unswapped.

What network is USDC on?

USDC is native to multiple networks, including Ethereum, Base, and Solana. Arc is designed to use native Circle-issued USDC too. Always check the network when sending or receiving it.

What is Arc?

Arc is Circle’s EVM-compatible Layer 1 for financial applications, with USDC gas, sub-second deterministic finality, and opt-in privacy in its design.

How much does a swap on Arc cost?

Check the quote for gas and any trading fees. Arc’s documented $0.001 design target is for an ERC-20 transfer, not a mainnet swap price. Price impact also affects what you receive.

Can I swap from Arc to another chain in one go?

Yes, with Zerion you can combine the transfer and swap. Check whether a quote is available for your chosen networks and tokens.

Is swapping crypto a taxable event?

It can be: US rules generally require recognizing gains or losses on crypto exchanges; rules elsewhere vary, so keep transaction records for your local reporting requirements.