> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://a-identity.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Circle Gateway

> A unified, chain-abstracted USDC balance — move value across chains, gaslessly.

An agent shouldn't care which chain its dollars sit on. **Circle Gateway** gives a
unified USDC balance: deposit on one chain, then move it to another with a signed
intent — no wallet or gas needed on the destination.

A-Identity uses Gateway **permissionlessly — no Circle API key**.

## How it works

<Steps>
  <Step title="Deposit on Arc">
    USDC is deposited into the Gateway Wallet on Arc, establishing a unified balance.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Sign a burn intent">
    A signed EIP-712 "burn intent" (a `TransferSpec`) is submitted to the Gateway API —
    no transaction to send on the destination chain.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Minted on the destination">
    The Forwarding Service mints USDC on the destination chain (Base Sepolia in our
    demo) in seconds, gaslessly.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Verified live: USDC deposited on Arc, then moved to **Base Sepolia** via the
  Forwarding Service and minted there in a few seconds — the cleanest cross-chain USDC
  UX we integrated. This is the same standard Circle Gateway exposes in production.
</Note>

## Why it matters for agents

An agent earning USDC on Arc can pay a service that only accepts USDC on Base without
bridging friction, a second wallet, or holding gas on both chains. Value follows the
work, not the chain.

The same Gateway deposit also powers [Circle Nanopayments](/protocols/nanopayments) —
gasless, batched, sub-cent x402 payments settle from this balance.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Circle CCTP" icon="arrow-right-arrow-left" href="/chains/cctp">
    The other cross-chain rail: native USDC by burn-and-mint, never wrapped.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Nanopayments" icon="gauge" href="/protocols/nanopayments">
    Gasless sub-cent payments settled from your Gateway balance in batches.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Card title="Build on Arc" icon="link" href="/chains/arc">
  Arc is the primary rail — gas in USDC, sub-second finality. Gateway extends it
  across chains.
</Card>