{ Arc House · Trading + DeFi }
Trading and DeFi on Arc.
Explore trading and DeFi on Arc. Get started with USDC through Arc Portal, compare how apps work, and discuss what you’re building.
Discover the ecosystem
Disclosures
No endorsement. References to third-party projects, tokens, products, or services do not imply endorsement, recommendation, approval, or validation by Circle. Community members’ and other third parties’ views do not necessarily reflect Circle’s views.
Educational content. This material is for education and general information. It is not financial, investment, legal, regulatory, or tax advice, or an offer or solicitation to buy or sell an asset. Examples and past performance do not guarantee future results.
Risks and responsibility. Digital assets and DeFi involve risk, including possible loss of funds. Smart contract flaws, network disruptions, and transaction errors can cause losses without recourse. Evaluate third-party projects independently and review their terms before use.
{ Arc Portal }
Start your journey on Arc.
Buy USDC on Arc Portal, then discover apps across the Arc ecosystem.
01 · Learn
Explore DeFi basics
Learn how DeFi apps work, check token claims, and understand liquidity.
02 · Discuss
Compare notes on markets
Talk through swap execution and lending mechanics. Bring sources with your questions.
03 · Build
Share a working prototype
Show what it does, ask for specific feedback, and post updates as your project develops.
{ Trading + DeFi explained }
Know what’s behind the screen.
Understand DeFi apps, token research, trading activity, and the infrastructure behind markets on Arc.
{ DeFi explained }
Six kinds of DeFi apps, and what you actually hold
Explore six DeFi app types through the assets you provide, the position you receive, the source of gains or losses, and the conditions for getting out.
Explainer7 min read
{ Research essentials }
Before you trust a token
Learn to spot misleading token claims, hidden contract controls, fragile liquidity, and withdrawal traps, with practical checks using public information.
Explainer10 min read
{ Market mechanics }
Wash trading and the illusion of liquidity
Learn how wash trading inflates activity, how circular token pairs can inflate displayed liquidity, and how to check the depth behind the headline numbers.
Explainer9 min read
{ Trading infrastructure explained }
How trading works on Arc
Follow a trade from quote and wallet permissions through settlement and exit. See which rules come from Arc and which come from the app.
Explainer9 min read
{ Posting and participation }
Before your first post.
How to ask a useful question, share a project update, and work with the moderation team.
Who is this group for?
Traders, DeFi users, researchers, and builders who want to understand market mechanics and build useful financial products on Arc. You can start with a question, a source, or a prototype.
Do I need a project to take part?
No. Explain a concept, compare documented product behavior, ask a focused question, or help another builder understand a tradeoff.
What makes a useful market discussion?
Name the product and network, record when you observed it, link the source, and separate facts from assumptions. Explain the mechanism or decision you want to understand.
Can project teams share updates?
Yes. Share a useful product update, a walkthrough, a technical decision, or a question for the group. Explain what changed, who it helps, the network and project stage, and your relationship to the project. Keep the post focused on the product and its mechanics.
What disclosure and links should a project post include?
Say whether you work on, represent, or are paid by the project. Include the documentation or demo that supports the update. If a token is relevant, link its official information and full contract address on the correct network, and explain its role. Include relevant limitations directly in the update so readers can understand the claim.
Can I talk about prices and yield?
Use them to explain market structure, execution, rate mechanics, and risk. Keep the focus on evidence and assumptions rather than price targets, guarantees, or personal buy and sell instructions.
Why might a post be removed?
Posts may be removed for unsupported financial promises, pressure to buy, undisclosed promotion, personal attacks, private information, repeated off-topic advertising, or misleading claims about affiliation. Product updates and evidence-based criticism are welcome when they include relevant context.
What should I do if my post is removed?
Review the reason provided by the moderation team and address the issue before posting again. If the reason is unclear, ask the team for clarification. A revised post should add missing context or sources, disclose the relevant affiliation, or remove the material that caused the issue. Avoid reposting the same content unchanged.
{ Share your work }
Show the progress.
Give people the context.
Project teams are welcome to share what they are building. Bring a useful update or a specific question, explain your involvement, and give the group enough detail to understand the product.
- Show what changedInclude a demo or screenshot. Name the network and say whether it is a concept, testnet prototype, or live product.
- Disclose your involvementState your role and any paid relationship to the project. Make relevant affiliations clear in the post.
- Link to the detailsInclude useful documentation and relevant contracts. If a token is part of the update, link its official information and explain its role.
- Ask a focused questionPoint to a product decision, mechanism, or user experience the community can help you think through.
{ Conversation starters }
Ideas for the first conversations.
Pick a question, add your context, and give others something concrete to explore.
01 · Swaps + execution
Why did these two swap quotes differ?
Compare the same assets, trade size, and timestamp. Bring the route, expected output, fees, and price impact.
Conversation idea02 · Market design
What makes a market easier to understand?
Compare a perp or prediction market’s pricing, settlement, funding, and liquidation mechanics. Pick one design choice.
Conversation idea03 · Lending + yield
Where is the yield coming from?
Map who pays, which activity creates the return, what changes the rate, and the conditions for withdrawing.
Conversation idea04 · Project showcase
What would improve this prototype?
Show a screen or a short walkthrough, explain what the app does, and ask a specific question about what you want to improve.
Conversation idea05 · Risk + research
Which assumption needs a closer look?
Bring documentation, a contract, or observable behavior. Explain the dependency and the evidence behind your question.
Conversation idea06 · Questions + help
What did you get stuck on this week?
Share your environment, what you tried, and what happened. Help turn one blocker into an answer others can use.
Conversation idea{ Arc House spotlights }
Go deeper with the builders.
Explore product walkthroughs, founder conversations, and partner articles covering trading, lending, FX, liquidity, and market data.
{ DEX aggregation }
Tower Exchange
Explore how Tower brings liquidity routes into one interface and approaches stablecoin swap execution.
Watch the spotlight
{ Collateral + lending }
Chariot
A testnet lending demonstration covering cross-chain collateral, vault mechanics, and risk controls.
Watch the spotlight
{ Spot + perpetual markets }
Synthra
A product walkthrough of spot swaps, concentrated liquidity, and perpetual-market design.
Watch the spotlight
{ FX + market structure }
Hibachi
A founder conversation about FX market structure, liquidity design, and settlement.
Watch the spotlight
{ Multi-currency product design }
Pulsar
See how balances, conversion, and earn fit into a consumer stablecoin application.
Watch the spotlight
{ Swaps + liquidity }
Uniswap
Explore swap integration paths, liquidity tooling, and composable market infrastructure.
Read the spotlight
{ Market data }
Pyth
Study how price feeds inform collateral, liquidation, FX quotes, and settlement decisions.
Read the spotlight
{ Cross-chain routing }
LI.FI
Think through quote, swap, bridge, and deposit steps as one connected user journey.
Read the spotlight
{ Tokenized credit }
Tradable
Explore the product questions around institutional credit, lifecycle tooling, and monitoring.
Read the spotlight
{ Swaps + social payments }
XyloNet
Watch a testnet walkthrough of swaps, bridges, vaults, and USDC tipping through XyloNet and PayX.
Watch the spotlight
{ Fixed-rate lending }
Morpho
Explore Midnight’s fixed-rate, fixed-term lending with Morpho cofounder Merlin Egalité, covering maturities, collateral, offers, and onchain credit design.
View the session
{ Borrowing + lending }
Aave
A builder-focused conversation on Aave V4, stablecoin-native lending and borrowing, and a technical walkthrough for developers.
View the session{ Trading and DeFi }
Talk trading and DeFi on Arc.
Ask about swaps, lending, or liquidity. Share a project update or join a discussion.
Hero photography: Annie Spratt on Unsplash.