> ## 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, with no wallet or gas needed on the destination.

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

## How it works

**1. Deposit on Arc**

USDC is deposited into the Gateway Wallet on Arc, establishing a unified balance.

**2. Sign a burn intent**

A signed EIP-712 "burn intent" (a `TransferSpec`) is submitted to the Gateway API.
There is no transaction to send on the destination chain.

**3. Minted on the destination**

The Forwarding Service mints USDC on the destination chain (Base Sepolia in our
demo) in seconds, gaslessly.

> [!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.

## 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.

> **[Circle CCTP](/chains/cctp)**
>
> The other cross-chain rail: native USDC by burn-and-mint, never wrapped.

> **[Nanopayments](/protocols/nanopayments)**
>
> Gasless sub-cent payments settled from your Gateway balance in batches.

> **[Build on Arc](/chains/arc)**
>
> Arc is the primary rail: gas in USDC, sub-second finality. Gateway extends it
> across chains.


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