What shipped
This week, the blockchain and crypto space has been buzzing with exciting developments, especially around some well-known projects like Hedera Hashgraph, Stellar, Ripple, Flare Network, and XDC Network. One of the standout stories is Hedera’s remarkable price jump of nearly 10% in the last 24 hours, coinciding with the launch of a new spot ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund). Spot ETFs allow investors to buy shares that directly track the price of an asset, in this case, Hedera’s native token (HBAR), making it easier and more accessible for traditional investors to participate.
Meanwhile, Stellar has been gaining momentum with its recent updates and community initiatives. The Stellar team released a detailed guide for their Protocol 24 upgrade, which brings improvements to the network’s speed and efficiency. Additionally, Stellar’s i³ Awards 2025 celebrated innovative projects building on their platform, highlighting growing developer interest and ecosystem expansion.
Ripple and Stellar both remain in the spotlight as payment networks continue to attract institutional interest. Stellar’s native token, XLM, saw a positive price movement recently, reflecting growing confidence from investors looking for scalable and fast cross-border payment solutions. Ripple, known for its focus on banking and remittances, remains a key player despite a modest price dip.
On the innovation front, Etherfuse is making waves by aiming to bring 100 sovereign currencies onchain. This means that traditional national currencies could be represented and transacted on blockchain networks, potentially revolutionizing how money moves globally. This approach could increase transparency, reduce costs, and speed up international payments.
Why it matters
These updates are important because they show how blockchain technology is moving beyond just being a speculative investment into something with real-world applications. The launch of Hedera’s spot ETF is a big step towards mainstream adoption, as it opens the door for more traditional investors to easily access blockchain assets through familiar financial products.
Stellar’s ongoing upgrades and community awards highlight the importance of continuous development and support for builders. By improving the network’s protocol and recognizing innovative projects, Stellar is strengthening its position as a reliable platform for decentralized finance (DeFi) and cross-border payments.
Ripple and Stellar’s focus on payment networks addresses a critical need in the global economy: faster, cheaper, and more transparent money transfers. Traditional payment systems can be slow and expensive, especially for cross-border transactions. Blockchain-based solutions like these can reduce friction, helping individuals and businesses move money more efficiently.
Etherfuse’s mission to bring sovereign currencies onchain is particularly exciting because it bridges the gap between traditional finance and blockchain. If successful, it could enable governments and financial institutions to interact directly with blockchain networks, increasing trust and potentially transforming how currencies are managed and exchanged worldwide.
Builders’ corner
- Stellar Protocol 24 Upgrade: Developers should check out the new upgrade guide released by Stellar. It includes technical details that improve transaction speeds and reduce costs, making apps built on Stellar faster and more user-friendly. This is a great opportunity for builders to enhance their projects.
- Etherfuse Initiative: Builders interested in stablecoins and digital currencies might want to explore Etherfuse’s approach to tokenizing sovereign currencies. This could open new use cases for digital payments and remittances that are compliant with national regulations.
- Hedera Spot ETF: For developers working on DeFi or asset management tools, the introduction of a Hedera spot ETF means new ways to integrate HBAR into financial products accessible to a wider audience.
- Ripple & Stellar Payment Solutions: Those building on RippleNet or the Stellar network should watch for growing institutional interest as it might bring more partnerships, liquidity, and real-world use cases.
Quick prices
- Bitcoin (BTC): $115,334, slightly down by 0.13% in 24 hours
- Ethereum (ETH): $4,133.61, down 1.9%
- Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR): $0.20, up nearly 10%
- Stellar (XLM): $0.33, small dip but showing signs of recovery
- Ripple (XRP): $2.65, down 1.3%
- Flare Network (FLR): $0.017, down 2.7%
- XDC Network (XDC): $0.062, relatively stable
What to watch
Looking ahead, here are some key things to keep an eye on:
- Hedera Spot ETF Impact: Will this new ETF attract more institutional investors? Watch for price trends and increased trading volume in the coming weeks.
- Stellar’s Protocol 24 Rollout: Monitor how the upgrade affects transaction speeds and costs. This could influence developer interest and user adoption.
- Etherfuse Progress: Follow updates on the project’s efforts to bring multiple sovereign currencies onchain. This could be a game changer for cross-border payments.
- Ripple’s Legal and Regulatory Moves: Ripple has faced legal challenges in the past; any progress or resolution could significantly impact its market position.
- Market Sentiment: Keep an eye on broader market trends, especially Bitcoin and Ethereum, as they often influence the entire crypto ecosystem.
TL;DR: This week’s highlights include Hedera’s launch of a spot ETF driving a nearly 10% price increase, Stellar’s Protocol 24 upgrade and community awards boosting developer activity, and Etherfuse’s ambitious plan to bring 100 national currencies onchain. Ripple and Stellar continue to attract institutional attention for their payment networks, while Bitcoin and Ethereum prices remain steady. These developments show growing maturity and real-world use cases for blockchain technology, signaling a promising future for investors and builders alike.
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