Blockchain Update: Etherfuse Onboards Sovereign Currencies; Stellar & Chainlink Advance

What Shipped

In the fast-moving world of blockchain and cryptocurrencies, there have been some exciting developments this week, especially around projects like Ripple, Stellar, Hedera, Flare Network, and XDC Network. Let’s break down some of the key updates and what they mean for investors and newcomers alike.

First up, Etherfuse is making waves by aiming to bring 100 sovereign currencies onchain. This means that traditional national currencies, like the US dollar or the Euro, could be digitized and operate on blockchain networks. This move could greatly increase the ease and speed of cross-border payments and open new doors for global financial inclusion. You can read more about this initiative on the Stellar blog.

Stellar itself launched the Protocol 24 Upgrade Guide, a detailed roadmap to improve its blockchain’s performance and security. Protocol upgrades are like software updates for blockchain networks—they help fix bugs, add new features, and keep the system running smoothly. This upgrade could make Stellar’s network faster and more reliable for users and developers. Check out the full guide here.

Additionally, the Stellar community celebrated the Stellar i³ Awards 2025, spotlighting innovative projects built on Stellar’s platform. Recognizing builders is important because it encourages new ideas and real-world applications, helping the network grow and thrive. More details are available on the Stellar blog.

In other news, Chainlink, a leading decentralized oracle network that feeds real-world data to smart contracts, released its Q3 2025 Quarterly Review and announced winning the Swift Hackathon 2025 Business Challenge. These achievements highlight Chainlink’s growing influence in connecting traditional finance with blockchain technology. Plus, Chainlink introduced DataLink, a new product designed to bring institutional market data onchain, making it easier for big investors to use blockchain securely and efficiently.

On the regulatory front, former President Trump named Gary Gensler, who previously led the SEC Crypto Task Force, as the nominee to run the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). This is significant because the CFTC oversees many aspects of the crypto market, and leadership changes can impact how cryptocurrencies are regulated in the U.S.

Finally, the REX-Osprey XRP ETF (XRPR) surpassed $100 million in assets under management, signaling strong investor interest in XRP through regulated investment products. Meanwhile, the cryptocurrency Solana (SOL) was added to Fidelity’s retail platform, making it more accessible to everyday investors.

Why It Matters

These updates reflect several important trends shaping the blockchain space:

Increased adoption of blockchain for traditional finance: Efforts like Etherfuse and Chainlink’s DataLink show how blockchains are bridging the gap between digital assets and traditional currencies or market data.
Network upgrades and innovation: Stellar’s protocol upgrade and ecosystem awards demonstrate ongoing improvements to blockchain infrastructure and the growing community of developers building real-world applications.
Regulatory developments: Leadership changes at the CFTC can influence the direction of crypto regulation, potentially affecting investor protections, compliance, and market growth.
Growing investor confidence: The XRP ETF surpassing $100 million marks a milestone for crypto investment products, showing that more mainstream investors are entering the space.
Accessibility improvements: Platforms like Fidelity adding cryptocurrencies like Solana make it easier for regular investors to participate in the market.

For newcomers, these trends suggest that blockchain technology is moving beyond early experimentation and becoming part of mainstream finance and technology infrastructure. This could mean more opportunities for growth and innovation in the coming years.

Builders’ Corner

If you’re interested in getting involved as a developer or blockchain enthusiast, here are some areas to watch:

Explore Stellar’s Protocol 24 Upgrade: Understanding this upgrade can help you build faster and more secure applications on Stellar’s network. The upgrade guide is a great technical resource.
Follow the Ripple and Stellar ecosystems: Both networks focus on cross-border payments and asset tokenization. Learning their tools and APIs can help you build financial applications that reach global users.
Check out Chainlink’s DataLink: If you work with smart contracts, DataLink offers a new way to integrate reliable market and institutional data directly onchain, which can improve your contract’s functionality.
Monitor regulatory news: Keeping an eye on how agencies like the CFTC regulate crypto will help you stay compliant and anticipate market changes.
Participate in community events: Awards and hackathons, like the Stellar i³ Awards and Swift Hackathon, are great places to showcase your projects and collaborate with other builders.

Quick Prices

Here’s a snapshot of some major cryptocurrency prices as of October 26, 2025, 5:00 ET:

Bitcoin (BTC): $111,795 (up 6.3% in 24 hours)
Ethereum (ETH): $3,960 (up 24% in 24 hours)
Ripple (XRP): $2.63 (up 3.4% in 24 hours)
Stellar (XLM): $0.33 (up 2.4% in 24 hours)
Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR): $0.17 (up 2.8% in 24 hours)
Flare Network (FLR): $0.017 (down 38.9% in 24 hours)
XDC Network (XDCE): $0.062 (down 2% in 24 hours)

Notably, Ethereum’s strong 24-hour growth suggests renewed investor interest, while Flare Network’s price dip might indicate a short-term setback or market adjustment.

What to Watch

Looking ahead, here are some key developments and events to keep an eye on:

Further progress on Etherfuse: Will the project successfully onboard multiple sovereign currencies onchain? This could be a game changer for global payments.
Implementation of Stellar’s Protocol 24 Upgrade: How will this upgrade impact network speed and usability? Faster transactions often attract more users and developers.
Chainlink’s adoption of DataLink: Will institutional investors embrace this new data service? It could boost smart contract use cases in finance.
Regulatory clarity from the CFTC: As Gary Gensler potentially takes charge, watch for new policies that could influence crypto markets and investor protections.
Growth of XRP ETFs: Will more crypto ETFs launch and attract mainstream investors? This could increase liquidity and stability in the crypto market.
Market reactions to new listings: With Solana now available on Fidelity, will other major platforms follow suit, broadening crypto access?

Staying informed about these developments can help you make smarter investment decisions and spot new opportunities in the blockchain space.

TL;DR: Etherfuse is working to bring 100 national currencies onto blockchains, Stellar is upgrading its protocol for better performance, and Chainlink is expanding real-world data integration for smart contracts. XRP ETFs are gaining popularity, and regulatory leadership changes in the U.S. could impact crypto markets. Prices are mostly up for major coins like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, and Stellar, while some smaller tokens have seen declines. Keep an eye on network upgrades, regulatory updates, and new crypto investment products as blockchain technology continues to grow and integrate with traditional finance.

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Blockchain Update: Etherfuse Onboards Sovereign Currencies; Stellar & Chainlink Advance