Stellar Protocol 24 Upgrade Launches; Chainlink Unveils DataLink Amid Mining Ban

What Shipped: Stellar’s Protocol 24 Upgrade and More

This week, the blockchain world saw several important updates, particularly from the Stellar network, which recently rolled out its Protocol 24 upgrade. This upgrade brings improvements designed to make the network more efficient and reliable. Stellar’s development team also announced an upcoming vote to address “state archival inconsistencies,” which refers to fixing how the network stores and manages historical data. These improvements aim to keep Stellar running smoothly and transparently for users and developers alike.

In addition to Stellar’s progress, Chainlink, a major player in blockchain data services, released its Q3 2025 review and celebrated winning the Swift Hackathon 2025 Business Challenge. Chainlink also introduced “DataLink,” a new tool that brings institutional market data directly onto blockchains, helping smart contracts access reliable information in real time.

On the regulatory front, British Columbia in Canada announced a permanent ban on new crypto mining projects connected to its electricity grid. This move highlights growing environmental concerns around cryptocurrency mining, which uses significant energy. Meanwhile, market watchers are closely monitoring Dogecoin (DOGE) for possible price movements after a period of consolidation.

Why It Matters: Improved Networks and Responsible Growth

Upgrades like Stellar’s Protocol 24 are important because they help blockchain networks handle more transactions faster and with fewer errors. For newcomers, think of a protocol upgrade like updating your phone’s operating system—it fixes bugs and adds features to improve your experience. Stellar’s focus on “state archival” means the network will better keep track of past transactions, which is crucial for transparency and security.

Chainlink’s innovations with DataLink open new doors for decentralized finance (DeFi) and other blockchain applications by providing trustworthy market data. This helps smart contracts—automated agreements running on blockchains—make smarter decisions based on real-world information.

The mining ban in British Columbia is a reminder that as blockchain technology grows, it must also consider environmental impacts. Energy use is a key topic for the crypto community, and measures like this push the industry toward cleaner, more sustainable solutions.

Builders’ Corner: What Developers and Projects Are Focusing On

Stellar Foundation is actively improving network infrastructure with Protocol 24 and preparing for governance votes to fix data storage issues.
Chainlink continues to enhance data services, with new tools like DataLink making on-chain data more accessible and reliable for developers building DeFi apps.
Ripple, Hedera Hashgraph, Flare Network, and XDC Network remain key organizations to watch, each working on their own innovations and partnerships to expand blockchain use cases.
Environmental concerns are encouraging projects to explore more energy-efficient consensus mechanisms, such as Proof of Stake (PoS), instead of energy-intensive Proof of Work (PoW).

For developers and newcomers interested in building or investing, these updates represent both technical progress and a commitment to sustainability and transparency.

Quick Prices: Current Snapshot (October 21, 2025)

Bitcoin (BTC): $107,744 (-3.04% in 24h)
Ethereum (ETH): $3,868.62 (-4.25% in 24h)
Ripple (XRP): $2.41 (-2.36% in 24h)
Stellar (XLM): $0.314979 (-3.91% in 24h)
Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR): $0.17049 (-3.89% in 24h)
Flare Networks (FLR): $0.01728886 (-1.74% in 24h)
XDC Network (XDCE): $0.062625 (-3.16% in 24h)

While prices have dipped slightly across the board, this is typical in the crypto market, which often experiences short-term fluctuations even when long-term trends remain positive.

What to Watch: Upcoming Events and Trends

Stellar’s Protocol Upgrade Vote: Keep an eye on the community vote addressing state archival inconsistencies next week. This decision will impact how the network manages historical data, potentially improving security and transparency.
Environmental Regulations: Watch how other regions respond to British Columbia’s crypto mining ban. This could influence mining operations and push more projects toward greener technologies.
Chainlink Developments: Follow updates on DataLink and other Chainlink products that aim to bring more real-world data onto blockchains, which could expand DeFi and smart contract capabilities.
Market Movements: Keep an eye on Dogecoin’s price around $0.194, as breaking this level could trigger new trading patterns.

TL;DR: Stellar’s Protocol 24 upgrade and upcoming governance vote aim to improve network performance and transparency. Chainlink continues to innovate with new data tools, while British Columbia’s mining ban highlights environmental concerns in crypto. Prices are slightly down but stable, and key projects like Ripple, Hedera, and Flare are progressing. Watch for important votes, regulatory changes, and Chainlink’s data advancements in the coming weeks.

Sources

Keep us honest — cross-check our latest

We encourage readers to sanity-check today’s brief against our recent coverage. Start here:

Stellar Protocol 24 Upgrade Launches; Chainlink Unveils DataLink Amid Mining Ban