Circle Internet Financial announced several major developments for its USD Coin (USDC) platform at its Converge22 conference, emphasizing a multi-chain strategy and the introduction of a Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol. The company plans to launch USDC on additional blockchains, including Arbitrum, Optimism, NEAR, Polkadot, and Cosmos, by leveraging Layer 2 scaling solutions and enabling stablecoin integration into decentralized applications. The newly introduced Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol aims to enhance liquidity and ease of use by allowing native transfers of USDC across different blockchain ecosystems without relying on synthetic versions. This protocol will enable developers to create cross-chain decentralized applications, improving user experience and potentially attracting a broader user base. Circle's efforts position USDC as a central component in the evolving "internet of value," with the Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol expected to go live on Ethereum and Avalanche by the end of the year, followed by further expansions in 2023.