$494M in 10 Days:
How to Get Started With Arc Before the Ecosystem Gets Crowded
Arc just crossed roughly $494 million in DeFi TVL.
The bigger surprise?
It happened only 10 days after mainnet launched.
A September 26 snapshot showed Arc's TVL up 44.52% in one week, while DEX volume reached about $55 million over 24 hours.
For a new chain, that's worth watching.
If you're an airdrop hunter, DeFi user, or simply want to explore Arc early, here's a simple way to get started.
Step 1: Get your wallet ready
Arc is EVM-compatible, so existing EVM wallet tools can support it.
The important difference is that USDC is used to pay network fees.
That means you don't need to keep a separate volatile gas token just to make transactions on Arc.
Start with a small amount of USDC.
Don't bridge or deposit more than you can afford to lose.
Step 2: Explore the main DEXs
Arc launched with major trading infrastructure, including Uniswap and Aero.
Start small.
Try a simple USDC swap.
Then look at:
- Trading volume
- Liquidity
- Available pools
- Transaction activity
You don't need to provide liquidity immediately.
First understand how the ecosystem works.
Step 3: Explore lending protocols
Arc also launched with major lending infrastructure including Aave and Morpho.
Check what markets are available.
Look at:
- Supply APY
- Borrow APY
- TVL
- Available assets
- Risk information
Never deposit funds simply because the APY looks high.
Step 4: Watch for ecosystem campaigns
This is where things get interesting for airdrop hunters.
Look for:
- Official Arc campaigns
- Protocol points programs
- Liquidity incentives
- New protocols launching on Arc
- Community quests
But don't assume every new protocol will launch a token.
Circle has created an ARC token supply, but it has not committed to a public ARC token launch.
So focus on real activity instead of farming every random project.
The simple strategy
You don't need to rush.
Explore → use → track → repeat.
Arc is still very young.
The $494M TVL shows that people are paying attention, but the bigger question is whether that liquidity stays after the early launch excitement fades.
That's what I'll be watching next.
Would you like me to make a second guide showing the specific Arc dApps worth exploring first?
