What Shipped
As of December 10, 2025, the blockchain space continues to evolve with exciting developments, particularly among projects like Ripple, Stellar, Hedera, Flare Network, and XDC Network. These organizations are making strides to improve cross-border payments, compliance, and developer tools.
One notable update comes from Stellar, which highlighted how Airtm is using its network to reduce cross-border payroll costs by 20-25%. This is a big deal for businesses and workers who deal with international payments, as it means faster, cheaper, and more transparent transactions.
Developers working with Stellar also have something to cheer about: the introduction of the Golang Stellar SDK. SDK stands for Software Development Kit, a set of tools that makes it easier to build applications on the Stellar blockchain using the Go programming language. This opens the door for more programmers to create apps that leverage blockchain’s speed and security.
Meanwhile, Ripple and Stellar are both actively pushing the boundaries of cross-border payment solutions, a space traditionally dominated by slow and expensive methods. Ripple’s native token, XRP, currently trades at about $2.01, while Stellar Lumens (XLM) sit at approximately $0.24. Although both saw a slight price dip of around 2.5% to 3.5% in the last 24 hours, the underlying technology and partnerships continue to strengthen.
Other projects like Hedera Hashgraph and Flare Network are also in the spotlight. Hedera, known for its fast and secure network, is priced around $0.13, and Flare Network at about $0.012. Both experienced minor price corrections recently but remain promising for future growth.
On a more positive note, the XDC Network token (XDC) bucked the trend with a 4.15% price increase to roughly $0.05, showing investor confidence in this platform’s progress.
Why It Matters
Cross-border payments have long been a pain point for businesses and individuals. Traditional systems often involve high fees, long wait times, and complex intermediaries. Blockchain technology offers a way to simplify and speed up these transactions, making global commerce more efficient and accessible.
Stellar’s partnership with Airtm is a concrete example of this promise in action. By cutting payroll costs for international workers, the platform helps ensure more of their earnings reach them quickly and without unnecessary fees. This can have a real impact on financial inclusion, especially in regions where banking infrastructure is limited.
Similarly, the introduction of new developer tools like Stellar’s Golang SDK means more people can build innovative applications on blockchain. This encourages a vibrant ecosystem of apps that can solve real-world problems, from remittances to decentralized finance (DeFi).
Ripple’s and Stellar’s focus on compliance and regulatory readiness, as highlighted by recent discussions on compliance for the future of finance, is also crucial. As governments and financial institutions become more involved with blockchain, projects that prioritize regulation-friendly solutions will likely lead the way.
Builders’ Corner
For developers and blockchain enthusiasts, this is an exciting time to get involved. Here are a few practical points to consider:
- Explore the Golang Stellar SDK: If you are comfortable with the Go programming language, this SDK offers a straightforward way to build on Stellar’s fast and low-cost network.
- Watch cross-border payment use cases: Projects like Airtm on Stellar provide great examples of how blockchain can reduce costs and improve speed for international payments.
- Stay informed on compliance: Understanding evolving regulations will help you build solutions that are both innovative and compliant, a key factor for long-term success.
- Keep an eye on price trends: While price dips are common, they can present buying opportunities. For instance, XDC Network’s recent price rise suggests growing interest in tokenized liquidity and enterprise blockchain solutions.
- Follow major partnerships and launches: The blockchain space is dynamic, with collaborations like State Street and Galaxy launching tokenized funds on Solana in 2026, signaling increased institutional adoption.
Quick Prices (as of Dec 10, 2025)
- Bitcoin (BTC): $90,618 (down ~1.6% in 24h)
- Ethereum (ETH): $3,252.71 (down ~1.3% in 24h)
- Ripple (XRP): $2.01 (down ~3.6% in 24h)
- Stellar (XLM): $0.244 (down ~2.5% in 24h)
- Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR): $0.132 (down ~3.5% in 24h)
- Flare Network (FLR): $0.0126 (down ~3.0% in 24h)
- XDC Network (XDC): $0.05 (up ~4.15% in 24h)
What to Watch
Looking ahead, several trends and events are worth keeping on your radar:
- Institutional Adoption: The upcoming launch of tokenized liquidity funds by major players like State Street and Galaxy on Solana indicates growing acceptance of blockchain by traditional finance.
- Regulatory Developments: Crypto CEOs joining the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC) Innovation Council shows the industry’s commitment to working with regulators to shape the future of markets.
- New Blockchain Use Cases: Bhutan’s debut of a gold-backed token on Solana is an example of how blockchain can be used to represent real-world assets, opening new investment opportunities.
- Developer Tools and Ecosystem Growth: Continued improvements in SDKs, developer resources, and partnerships will help bring more innovative applications to market.
TL;DR: Blockchain projects like Stellar, Ripple, Hedera, Flare, and XDC continue to push the boundaries of cross-border payments and developer tools. Stellar’s partnership with Airtm shows real-world cost savings, while new tools like the Golang SDK make building on blockchain easier. Despite some price dips, optimism remains high due to growing institutional interest and regulatory collaboration. Keep an eye on new token launches, compliance efforts, and innovative use cases for a promising future in blockchain technology.
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