SwissBorg integrates direct USDC deposits on Arc Network, bypassing costly bridge fees

SwissBorg has rolled out native support for USDC deposits on Arc Network, letting users move stablecoins directly onto the chain without routing through external bridges. The integration effectively turns SwissBorg into a direct on-ramp for Arc, a network built from the ground up around stablecoins rather than volatile native tokens.

The timing matters because until now, getting USDC onto Arc meant dealing with third-party bridges like PlaygroundBridge, which charges a dynamic “launch premium” ranging from 3% to 25% on inbound transfers. For anyone moving meaningful sums, that’s the kind of fee structure that makes you double-check your screen.

What Arc Network actually is

Arc isn’t just another Layer 2 or EVM-compatible chain competing for the same DeFi users. It’s designed as a stablecoin-native network where USDC serves as the gas token. There’s no volatile native token to buy, hold, or worry about.

Beyond USDC, Arc natively supports EURC (a euro-denominated stablecoin) and USYC, positioning itself as a fiat-stable and yield-oriented environment. The network also supports ERC-4337 account abstraction, which is the technical standard behind smart wallet functionality, allowing Arc to tap into existing Ethereum infrastructure for things like gasless transactions and session keys.

Why bridging fees were the real problem

Before SwissBorg’s integration, users who wanted USDC on Arc had limited options. PlaygroundBridge was one of the primary pathways, and its pricing model imposed premiums that could eat a quarter of a transfer’s value at the high end.

That 3% to 25% range is a dynamic fee that fluctuates based on demand, meaning users had little predictability over what they’d actually pay. SwissBorg’s direct deposit integration removes that intermediary entirely. The company had previously enabled multi-chain USDC deposits and withdrawals across seven major networks, so extending that capability to Arc fits a pattern rather than breaking new ground.

The stablecoin-native thesis

Most blockchains require users to hold at least two tokens: the native gas token and whatever asset they actually want to use. That dual-token requirement creates constant exposure to price swings on the gas side, even for users who just want stable-value transactions. Arc’s design sidesteps this entirely by making USDC the gas token and eliminating the need for a separate native asset.

For Arc, the partnership solves a distribution problem. Getting listed as a supported withdrawal network on a regulated crypto wealth management platform brings users who might never interact with a bridge interface. SwissBorg’s user base skews toward European retail investors who value simplicity, which aligns with Arc’s pitch of a stablecoin environment without the usual complexity.