What Shipped
In the world of blockchain and cryptocurrencies, exciting developments keep pushing the space forward. This week, several key updates and news items have emerged, especially from projects like Ripple, Stellar, Hedera, Flare Network, and XDC Network. Among the most notable is the announcement from Etherfuse, a project aiming to bring 100 sovereign currencies onchain. This means they want to digitize traditional national currencies using blockchain technology, making cross-border payments faster, cheaper, and more transparent.
On Stellar’s side, the community recently released the Protocol 24 upgrade guide, which outlines technical improvements to their blockchain network. Stellar also held its i³ Awards 2025, recognizing innovative projects and developers building on their platform. These upgrades and community events are important milestones as they help improve the network’s speed, security, and usability.
Meanwhile, Chainlink, a decentralized oracle network that connects smart contracts to real-world data, shared its Q3 2025 quarterly review. They also announced winning the Swift Hackathon 2025 Business Challenge and introduced DataLink, a new product designed to bring institutional market data onchain. These developments highlight how blockchain is increasingly integrating with traditional finance data.
Tesla made headlines by reporting an $80 million profit from its Bitcoin holdings in the third quarter, showing that major companies continue to see value in holding cryptocurrencies. Additionally, crypto exchange Kraken is planning a Caribbean island retreat for its staff in January, reflecting growing confidence and team-building efforts in the crypto industry.
Why It Matters
Understanding why these updates matter can help new investors and curious newcomers make sense of the evolving crypto landscape. First, Etherfuse’s goal to bring 100 sovereign currencies onchain could be a game-changer for global finance. By digitizing national currencies on blockchain, it can reduce the friction and cost of moving money across countries, especially for people who currently rely on slow and expensive banking systems.
Stellar’s Protocol 24 upgrade is significant because blockchain networks need continuous improvements to stay competitive and secure. Upgrades usually bring faster transaction speeds, lower fees, and enhanced security features, benefiting everyone who uses the network.
Chainlink’s progress in connecting blockchains with real-world data through oracles is crucial for the development of smart contracts—self-executing contracts with the terms directly written into code. These oracles enable smart contracts to react to real-world events, such as stock prices or weather data, expanding blockchain’s practical uses.
Tesla’s profit on Bitcoin holdings serves as a reminder that cryptocurrencies are becoming an accepted part of corporate finance. This helps build confidence among investors that Bitcoin and other digital assets can be legitimate stores of value and investment opportunities.
Builders’ Corner
For developers and creators in the blockchain space, the latest updates offer several opportunities and insights:
- Etherfuse: Developers interested in digital currencies and cross-border payments can explore how sovereign currencies can be tokenized and integrated with existing financial systems.
- Stellar Protocol 24: If you’re building apps on Stellar, reviewing the upgrade guide is essential to ensure your projects remain compatible and take advantage of new features.
- Chainlink DataLink: Builders can now access institutional-grade market data onchain, opening the door for more sophisticated decentralized finance (DeFi) applications.
- Ripple, Hedera, Flare, XDC: These networks continue to develop unique solutions for scalability, interoperability, and enterprise blockchain applications. Keeping an eye on their updates can inspire new projects and collaborations.
Whether you’re a developer, investor, or enthusiast, staying informed about these advancements helps you understand where the blockchain ecosystem is heading and how you can contribute or benefit.
Quick Prices
As of October 22, 2025, here are the approximate prices and 24-hour changes for some major cryptocurrencies:
- Bitcoin (BTC): $107,856 (down 0.23%)
- Ethereum (ETH): $3,815 (down 0.77%)
- Ripple (XRP): $2.37 (down 1.97%)
- Stellar (XLM): $0.31 (down 0.84%)
- Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR): $0.17 (down 2.30%)
- Flare Network (FLR): $0.017 (down 1.68%)
- XDC Network (XDC): $0.062 (down 1.05%)
While prices have seen slight declines, this is common in the volatile crypto market. Long-term trends and project fundamentals often matter more than daily price movements.
What to Watch
Looking ahead, here are some key things to keep an eye on:
- Etherfuse Progress: Watch how the project moves forward with digitizing sovereign currencies and whether partnerships with governments or banks emerge.
- Stellar Network Upgrades: Monitor how Protocol 24 impacts network performance and developer adoption.
- Chainlink’s DataLink Adoption: See which DeFi projects and enterprises start using this new data source for smarter contracts.
- Corporate Crypto Strategies: Tesla’s Bitcoin profit is a sign of corporate interest—watch for other companies announcing crypto holdings or blockchain initiatives.
- Regulatory Environment: Keep an eye on regulations that may affect how cryptocurrencies and blockchain projects operate globally.
Staying informed about these developments will help you make smarter decisions and spot new opportunities.
TL;DR: Etherfuse is working to bring 100 national currencies onto blockchain, potentially transforming global payments. Stellar’s Protocol 24 upgrade and community awards highlight ongoing improvements. Chainlink is advancing smart contracts with new data tools. Tesla’s $80M Bitcoin profit shows growing corporate crypto adoption. Prices are slightly down but fundamentals remain strong. Keep watching how these projects evolve and impact the blockchain ecosystem.
Sources
- Etherfuse Aims to Bring 100 Sovereign Currencies Onchain
- Protocol 24 Upgrade Guide
- Stellar i³ Awards 2025
- Chainlink Quarterly Review: Q3 2025
- Chainlink Selected as Winner of the Swift Hackathon 2025 Business Challenge
- Introducing DataLink: Bringing Institutional Market Data Onchain
- Tesla Booked $80M Profit on Bitcoin Holdings in Q3
- Crypto Exchange Kraken Is Taking Staff on Caribbean Island Retreat in January: Sources
- A ‘Skinny’ Fed Master Account Could Bring Back Narrow Banking
- Prices via CoinGecko
Keep us honest — cross-check our latest
We encourage readers to sanity-check today’s brief against our recent coverage. Start here:
- Crypto Markets Stable: Bitcoin, Ethereum Hold; XRP, XLM, HBAR Dip Slightly
- Crypto Markets Dip Slightly; XRP, XLM, HBAR, FLR, XDC Show Ecosystem Growth
- Etherfuse Advances Sovereign Currencies Onchain; Stellar and Chainlink Release Key Updates
- Bitcoin and Ethereum Dip 4% Amid Broader Crypto Pullback; XRP, XLM, HBAR Also Decline

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