What Shipped
Welcome to your February 2026 update on some of the most exciting developments in the blockchain space. This week, we’ve seen several important projects advance, especially within organizations like Ripple, Stellar, Hedera, Flare Network, and XDC Network. These groups are building innovative tools and solutions aimed at making blockchain technology more accessible, efficient, and useful for everyday users.
One standout update comes from Stellar, which recently introduced Meridian Pay. This is a new, scalable smart wallet designed to make managing digital assets simpler and faster on the Stellar network. Smart wallets are digital wallets enhanced with “smart” features—automated functions like sending payments under certain conditions or interacting with decentralized apps (dApps) without needing complicated setups.
Stellar also showcased creative uses of smart contracts with NFTs (non-fungible tokens) at their Meridian 2025 event. NFTs are unique digital items, like artwork or collectibles, secured on the blockchain. This shows Stellar’s commitment to expanding beyond just payments, enabling more diverse applications.
Meanwhile, Hedera Hashgraph announced support for Swift 6 in their Hiero Swift SDK, making it easier for developers to build mobile apps that interact with the Hedera network. Hedera also shared developer highlights from January 2026 and showcased their work on digital trust at the Davos 2026 conference, emphasizing their focus on secure and reliable blockchain infrastructure.
Additionally, Chainlink published several insightful posts explaining how blockchain technology improves cross-border payments and how their oracle services help stablecoin issuers grow. Oracles are tools that connect blockchains with real-world data, making smart contracts smarter by feeding them timely and accurate information.
Why It Matters
These updates highlight how blockchain is moving from a niche technology to a practical tool for everyday financial activities and beyond.
- Smart Wallets like Meridian Pay: They simplify managing multiple digital assets and executing complex transactions securely, making blockchain more user-friendly.
- NFTs on Stellar: Expanding blockchain use cases into digital art and collectibles helps attract new users and developers.
- Developer Tools like Hedera’s Swift SDK: Easier app development means more innovative applications, which drives broader adoption.
- Stablecoin Growth: Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies pegged to fiat money (like the US dollar) that reduce volatility, making crypto payments more reliable.
- Blockchain in Cross-Border Payments: Faster, cheaper, and more transparent international money transfers benefit businesses and consumers worldwide.
Overall, these advancements create a better ecosystem where users can trust and enjoy blockchain technology without needing deep technical knowledge.
Builders’ Corner
If you’re new to blockchain development or just curious about how these projects work, here’s a quick guide to some key concepts:
- Smart Contracts: These are self-executing contracts with the terms directly written into code. They run on blockchains and automatically enforce agreements without middlemen.
- Smart Wallets: Digital wallets enhanced with programmable features, allowing automated payments, multi-signature security, and easier interaction with decentralized services.
- NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens): Unique digital tokens representing ownership of items like art, music, or collectibles, secured by blockchain.
- SDK (Software Development Kit): A set of tools and libraries that help developers create applications quickly and efficiently.
- Oracles: Services that provide blockchains with external data, like price feeds or weather information, enabling smarter smart contracts.
For developers interested in building on these platforms, Stellar’s and Hedera’s recent SDK improvements make it easier than ever to start experimenting with blockchain apps. You can explore Stellar’s blog posts and Hedera’s developer highlights for tutorials, updates, and community support.
Quick Prices
Here’s a snapshot of some major cryptocurrencies as of February 8, 2026, 13:01 ET:
- Bitcoin (BTC): $70,750 (+2.28% in 24 hours) – Bitcoin continues to hold strong, showing steady growth.
- Ethereum (ETH): $2,090.92 (+1.48%) – The leading smart contract platform remains resilient.
- Flare Networks (FLR): $0.0096 (+0.73%) – A smaller but promising network focused on smart contract interoperability.
- Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR): $0.0914 (+2.76%) – Notable gains reflecting growing interest.
- Ripple (XRP): $1.43 (+0.36%) – Continuing steady progress amid ongoing adoption.
- Stellar (XLM): $0.161 (-0.28%) – Slight dip despite active development.
- XDC Network (XDC): $0.0359 (-3.98%) – A minor pullback in price.
What to Watch
Looking ahead, there are several exciting trends and events to keep an eye on:
- Stellar’s Ecosystem Growth: Watch for more dApps and wallets built on Stellar, especially those leveraging smart contracts and NFTs for real-world use.
- Hedera’s Expansion: Continued developer engagement and enterprise adoption could drive further network growth and token value.
- Cross-Border Payments Innovation: Blockchain’s role in making international payments faster and cheaper is gaining traction with partnerships and new protocols.
- Stablecoin Issuance: As stablecoins become more popular, tools that support their secure and compliant issuance will be vital.
- Market Sentiment: Bitcoin bulls are spotting signs of a bottom, signaling potential upward momentum after periods of volatility.
Additionally, keep an eye on industry news, such as company staffing changes or regulatory developments, which can influence market dynamics. For example, Block (formerly Square) is reportedly considering job cuts, a reminder that even big players must adapt to evolving market conditions.
TL;DR: Stellar launched Meridian Pay, a smart wallet making blockchain easier to use, while Hedera improved developer tools and highlighted digital trust efforts. Blockchain is advancing in cross-border payments and stablecoin growth, with Bitcoin and Ethereum showing steady gains. Developers have more tools than ever to build innovative apps, and market watchers should monitor ecosystem growth and broader industry trends for opportunities.
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