The Rise of Custom Blockchains in Finance
The blockchain industry has reached a point where the number of networks, projects, and tokens is overwhelming even for experts. Recently, a new trend has emerged: major financial companies are building their own blockchains. Firms like Circle, Stripe, and Ondo Finance are no longer content to rely solely on public networks such as Ethereum or Solana. Instead, they are creating dedicated systems to gain control, compliance, and strategic positioning.
Circle’s Arc and Stripe’s Tempo
One of the most notable moves came from Circle, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, which announced its new blockchain named Arc. At the same time, payment giant Stripe accidentally revealed plans for its own blockchain, Tempo, developed in partnership with Paradigm. These initiatives are not isolated—startups such as Plasma and Stable are also working on specialized chains to support USDT, the world’s largest stablecoin with a market cap of $160 billion.
Tokenization and Stablecoins Driving Growth
The motivation behind these launches is clear: stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets are becoming some of the fastest-growing segments of the digital economy. Analysts predict they could expand into multi-trillion-dollar asset classes in the near future. Stablecoins promise faster and cheaper cross-border payments, while tokenization brings traditional instruments like bonds, funds, and stocks into a blockchain ecosystem where they can trade 24/7 with instant settlement.
Why Not Stick to Public Blockchains?
Most tokens currently live on public blockchains such as Ethereum, Solana, and Tron. These platforms provide global reach and liquidity but also introduce limitations for asset issuers. With their own blockchains, financial companies gain total control over transaction costs, performance, and governance. They can also issue their own tokens for gas fees, isolate their networks from external risks, and ensure compliance through built-in Know Your Customer (KYC) verification.
Regulatory Alignment and Efficiency
Custom blockchains also align better with regulatory requirements. In an industry where compliance, settlement speed, and interoperability are critical, building a dedicated blockchain helps companies streamline operations and avoid being tied to the vulnerabilities of public networks.
Conclusion
The shift of financial firms like Circle and Stripe toward custom blockchains signals a strategic transformation in the crypto economy. As stablecoins and tokenized assets grow, control, compliance, and efficiency will matter more than ever. If this trend continues, we may soon see the rise of an entirely new layer of institution-driven blockchains reshaping the financial landscape.
