What shipped
As of January 28, 2026, the cryptocurrency market shows some small dips across major and emerging tokens, but the innovation and developments in blockchain technology continue at a lively pace. Bitcoin, the most well-known cryptocurrency, is priced at around $88,443, down just under 1% in the last 24 hours. Ethereum, the platform that powers many decentralized applications (dApps), is trading near $2,989 with a similar slight decline. Among other notable projects, tokens like Ripple (XRP) and Stellar (XLM), which focus on fast and affordable cross-border payments, also saw minor decreases in value.
In recent news, several exciting updates have emerged from key blockchain organizations:
- Stellar highlighted its ongoing work with smart contracts and NFTs (non-fungible tokens) at Meridian 2025, showcasing how art and blockchain can intersect in new ways. This helps artists and creators use blockchain technology to prove ownership and authenticity of digital art.
- Hedera Hashgraph, known for its fast and secure decentralized network, made waves at the Davos 2026 forum by discussing digital trust and welcomed four new partners to its governance council, expanding its ecosystem.
- Ripple and Stellar continue pushing interoperability between traditional payment systems and blockchain networks, aiming to make sending money internationally smoother and more cost-effective.
- Chainlink has been busy developing technology that connects real-world data, like stock prices, to blockchain smart contracts. This “oracle” technology enables more complex and useful decentralized finance (DeFi) applications.
- Meanwhile, major tech companies like Meta and Microsoft are increasing their investments in artificial intelligence (AI), which could lead to new opportunities for bitcoin miners and blockchain projects that incorporate AI.
Why it matters
These developments highlight a few important trends in the blockchain space:
- Smart contracts and NFTs are becoming more mainstream. Stellar’s work with art NFTs shows how blockchain can support creators beyond just currency, opening doors for digital ownership and new types of online economies.
- Interoperability is key. The push for traditional payment networks to work seamlessly with blockchain platforms like Ripple and Stellar means everyday users could soon enjoy faster, cheaper, and more transparent international transfers without needing to understand complex technology.
- Governance and partnerships strengthen networks. Hedera’s expansion of its council with new partners signals growing trust and collaboration, which helps networks stay secure, decentralized, and responsive to new use cases.
- Real-world data integration boosts blockchain utility. Chainlink’s work to bring stock market data on-chain means decentralized finance can offer more sophisticated financial services, bridging the gap between traditional finance and blockchain.
- AI investments could enhance blockchain applications. With companies like Meta and Microsoft spending heavily on AI, blockchain projects could benefit from smarter automation, better security, and new user experiences.
For new investors and curious newcomers, these stories show that blockchain technology is expanding beyond just buying and selling coins. It’s becoming a platform for innovation in finance, art, governance, and technology integration.
Builders’ corner
If you are interested in exploring or building on these platforms, here are some concrete examples and ideas:
- Try creating an NFT on Stellar. Platforms like Stellar are making it easier to mint and sell digital art or collectibles. Check out Stellar’s ecosystem blog for guides and inspiration.
- Explore cross-border payment apps. Ripple and Stellar both offer developer tools to build applications that send money internationally with low fees and fast settlement times.
- Experiment with Hedera’s smart contracts and decentralized applications. The Hedera network provides robust tools and a growing community for building scalable and secure dApps.
- Use Chainlink oracles to connect your smart contracts to real-world data. This is especially useful if you want to build decentralized finance products that react to stock prices, weather, or other external events.
- Keep an eye on AI integration. Consider how emerging AI tools might enhance your blockchain projects, whether through automation, analytics, or user interaction improvements.
Quick prices (as of 2026-01-28 21:02 ET)
- Bitcoin (BTC): $88,443 (-0.93% 24h)
- Ethereum (ETH): $2,989 (-0.80% 24h)
- Ripple (XRP): $1.89 (-0.54% 24h)
- Stellar (XLM): $0.2078 (-0.04% 24h)
- Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR): $0.1054 (-2.12% 24h)
- Flare Network (FLR): $0.0106 (-0.26% 24h)
- XDC Network (XDC): $0.0381 (-2.60% 24h)
What to watch
Looking ahead, here are some developments and trends to keep an eye on:
- Adoption of NFTs beyond art. As Stellar and others expand NFT use cases, watch for new types of digital assets that could transform gaming, identity, and more.
- Progress on blockchain interoperability. Projects working to connect different blockchains and traditional payment systems will be key to mainstream adoption.
- Hedera’s expanding ecosystem and partnerships. New collaborations could lead to innovative applications and increased network usage.
- Chainlink’s data services. As they onboard more real-world data streams, expect more complex DeFi products and hybrid applications.
- Impact of AI investment on blockchain. Watch how AI-powered tools and platforms influence blockchain development and mining efficiency.
TL;DR: While cryptocurrency prices have dipped slightly, blockchain technology continues to advance in exciting ways. Stellar is promoting NFTs in digital art, Hedera is growing its trusted network and partnerships, Ripple and Stellar push for smoother global payments, and Chainlink is bridging real-world data with smart contracts. Big tech’s AI investments could also bring new opportunities. For newcomers, these trends show blockchain’s expanding role beyond just currency, offering fresh chances to build and participate in this evolving ecosystem.
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