Bridged USDC Standard Now Available for All Orbit Chains

**Arbitrum is positioning itself as the trusted infrastructure for institutions entering the programmable economy.** As the global economy shifts from manual systems to programmable infrastructure, businesses seek platforms that offer: - **GTM-ready market launches** with global accessibility - **Reliability and customization** capabilities - **Programmable compliance** features Institutions are actively evaluating blockchain infrastructure based on these criteria as they transition operations onchain.

**GMX has launched 24/7 gold and silver markets on Arbitrum**, crossing $10 million in trading volume within the first day. **Key highlights:** - Permissionless access to precious metals exposure - No brokerage account or custody requirements needed - Trading live on the Arbitrum platform - Demonstrates strong demand for programmable traditional assets The launch showcases how traditional markets are becoming programmable and accessible through DeFi infrastructure, with Arbitrum providing the liquidity and execution layer for these new asset classes.

Following the success of Open House NYC in March, the Arbitrum Foundation is launching **Open House London** - a two-phase program for early-stage teams building AI, payments, or DeFi primitives. **Program Structure:** - 3-week online Buildathon for building and iteration - Top teams advance to an in-person Founder House in London - Technical workshops, product sessions, and hands-on mentoring - Investor pitching opportunities - **$415K total** in prizes and grants The program is supported by the Arbitrum Foundation, Offchain, Robinhood Chain, and the broader ecosystem. Registration is now open at [openhouse.arbitrum.io](https://openhouse.arbitrum.io/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=oh-london-buildathon). This accelerator aims to help founders launch new businesses into the programmable economy on the Arbitrum Platform, building on the momentum from hundreds of teams and real businesses that emerged from the NYC edition. [Read more details](https://blog.arbitrum.foundation/open-house-london-registration-is-now-open/)

Arbitrum has published guidance comparing Layer 1 and Layer 2 blockchain architectures for enterprise use cases, focusing on cost structures. **Key differences:** - **L1 chains** require fixed overhead for validator maintenance and ongoing security subsidies - **L2 solutions** offer usage-based costs with shared security from Ethereum The analysis emphasizes that aligning costs with actual demand is critical for enterprise blockchain deployments. [Read the full comparison](https://blog.arbitrum.io/l1-vs-l2-choosing-the-right-chain-architecture-for-your-enterprise/)

Multiplifi has reached $25M in total value locked (TVL) by building a unified credit layer through rwaUSD. The platform converts tokenized real-world assets into more liquid and composable forms across DeFi protocols. **Key developments:** - rwaUSD creates a programmable credit layer from tokenized assets - Integration with Arbitrum provides access to deep liquidity and active markets - Infrastructure enables TradFi and DeFi convergence The milestone reflects growing adoption of real-world asset tokenization in DeFi.