21X Group Announces Collaboration with Circle as it joins Arc as a Day-1 Launch Partner
Frankfurt, New York, October 1st, 2026, Chainwire
Partnership to explore the use of Arc for tokenized securities on 21X Group’s trading and settlement systems
21X Group, whose subsidiary 21X AG operates the first fully regulated trading and settlement system for tokenized securities in the EU, today announced that it has been named a Day-1 launch partner in the Arc ecosystem as the network moves to public mainnet in the EU and US. 21X Group and Circle have entered into a collaboration to build use cases for issuers and brokers of tokenized securities on Arc across EU and US markets.
Arc is an open, EVM-compatible Layer-1 blockchain built for the world’s financial markets, real-time money movement and agentic economic activity. It uses stablecoins as gas, starting with Circle’s own USDC.
In the EU, 21X AG operates a venue where institutional participants can issue, trade and settle tokenized securities through atomic delivery versus payment, reducing settlement time and principal risk. Its European venue currently supports USDC as a settlement currency.
21X LLC announced its anticipated entry into the US on the 29th of September 2026 in a move into the world’s largest capital market, which marks its first expansion outside Europe. 21X LLC is seeking US regulatory approvals to form a US broker-dealer that will operate an alternative trading system that will offer subscribers the ability to trade in tokenized securities.
Within the collaboration, 21X Group and Circle are exploring Arc as a network for the issuance, trading and settlement of tokenized securities in the EU and US. Ahead of the Arc mainnet launch, the two companies successfully tested the trading of tokenized securities on Arc through 21X AG’s EU capital market infrastructure – leveraging atomic settlement against USDC in under one second.
Asset managers in the Arc ecosystem will be able to work with 21X AG’s existing EU platform and expected US platform, pending both EU and US regulatory approvals, to list tokenized securities on Arc to enable trading against USDC. Building on their existing collaboration in Europe, the companies are further exploring how Circle’s broader infrastructure can support institutional access to stablecoins while enabling cross-chain interoperability for USDC.
Max Heinzle, Founder and CEO, 21X Group, said: “Arc is purpose-built for financial applications and offers a natural environment for stablecoins and tokenized securities operations. Exploring 21X LLC’s anticipated trading and settlement capabilities on Arc will allow us to build on what we have already established in Europe, where participants can settle tokenized securities against USDC through atomic delivery versus payment. We are pleased to join the Arc ecosystem from day one.”
Ray Tierney, CEO, 21X LLC, added: “The US is the world’s largest capital market, and will be central to the next phase of tokenization. As we build out 21X LLC’s US operation, our focus is on creating regulated institutional access to tokenized securities across open blockchain networks. Joining the Arc ecosystem from day one is an important step in that strategy.”
About 21X Group
21X Group is an international financial market infrastructure group building regulated, tokenized capital markets, comprising 21X AG and 21X Service GmbH in Europe; and 21X LLC and 21X USA LLC in the United States.
On September 8, 2025, 21X AG opened the first authorized distributed ledger technology trading and settlement system (DLT TSS) in the EU, positioning the company as a leader in the transition from traditional to tokenized asset-based capital markets.
21X AG operates its trading and settlement venue in the EU under BaFin (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht) and ESMA (European Securities and Markets Authority) oversight. Its infrastructure is designed to operate across multiple distributed ledger networks, adapted to the regulatory requirements of the markets in which it operates. 21X AG’s platform in the EU enables atomic trading without counterparty risk through smart contract-based issuance, trading and settlement of tokenized stocks, bonds and funds.
See the video about 21X Group and our blockchain-based exchange here.
Important information
21X LLC is not a registered broker-dealer under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and under applicable state laws in the United States or a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. Accordingly, this press release and its contents do not constitute an offer or invitation to sell, purchase or subscribe for, any securities or any other banking, investment, insurance or other product or service to US Persons (as such term is defined in the federal securities laws of the United States). This communication was reviewed by FINRA.
About Circle
Circle (NYSE: CRCL) is one of the world’s leading internet financial platform companies, building the foundation of a more open, global economy through programmable blockchain infrastructure, digital assets, and payment applications. Circle’s platform includes the world’s largest stablecoin network anchored by USDC, Circle Payments Network for global money movement, and Arc, an enterprise-grade blockchain designed to become the Economic OS for the internet. Enterprises, financial institutions, and developers use Circle to power trusted, internet-scale financial innovation.
For More Information on 21X Group, Contact:
Mob: +44 7828173419
Web: https://www.21x.eu/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/21x/