Bitcoin, Ethereum Rise Strong; Ripple, Stellar, Hedera Gain on Real-World Use Cases

What shipped

Today’s crypto market update brings some exciting news for investors and newcomers alike. Major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum continue to show solid growth, with Bitcoin reaching an impressive $115,023 per coin, up about 3.2% in the last 24 hours. Ethereum, known for powering many decentralized applications, is up even more sharply, rising nearly 8.7% to $4,154.

Alongside these big names, several emerging blockchain projects are gaining momentum. Flare Networks, a platform designed to bring smart contract capabilities to other blockchains, saw its token price rise by over 6% to about 2 cents. Hedera Hashgraph, a fast and secure public ledger that uses a unique technology called a hashgraph instead of traditional blockchain, jumped over 10% to nearly 19 cents.

Ripple and Stellar, both well-established players focusing on fast, low-cost cross-border payments, also posted strong gains. Ripple’s XRP token climbed almost 9.6% to $2.62, while Stellar’s XLM rose nearly 7.8% to about 35 cents. The XDC Network, which supports enterprise blockchain solutions, increased by over 5% to roughly 6.4 cents.

Why it matters

These price movements highlight growing confidence in blockchain projects that focus on real-world use cases, especially those improving financial infrastructure and cross-border payments. Bitcoin and Ethereum’s steady rises remind us that the market’s foundation remains strong, even as newer projects innovate and expand the ecosystem.

For example, Ripple and Stellar are helping banks and financial institutions move money faster and cheaper across countries, making international transactions more accessible. Hedera Hashgraph’s surge reflects increasing interest in alternative technologies that promise higher speed and scalability, which are essential for blockchain to reach mainstream adoption.

Flare Networks, by enabling smart contracts on blockchains that don’t natively support them, opens up new possibilities for decentralized finance (DeFi) and other applications. Meanwhile, the XDC Network’s growth signals enterprise interest in blockchain solutions that improve supply chains, trade finance, and other business processes.

Builders’ corner

Behind these price gains are teams and communities actively building and improving their networks. Stellar recently shared a thoughtful blog post titled “Let’s build open highways, not railroads”, where they discuss the importance of open infrastructure that benefits everyone rather than closed systems controlled by a few. This openness encourages innovation and fair access.

Another insightful read from Stellar, “Who Really Controls Your Blockchain?”, debunks common myths about decentralization, helping newcomers understand how control and security work in blockchain networks.

Meanwhile, Ripple and Stellar continue developing partnerships with financial institutions, aiming to make cross-border payments seamless. Hedera Hashgraph is expanding its ecosystem with new enterprise clients and decentralized applications, leveraging its unique technology for speed and security.

Also notable is Chainlink, a decentralized oracle network that won the Swift Hackathon 2025 Business Challenge, demonstrating its growing role in connecting real-world data with blockchain applications. Chainlink’s recent launches, like DataLink (which brings institutional market data on-chain) and the Digital Transfer Agent (DTA) technical standard, show how blockchain is becoming more integrated with traditional finance.

Quick prices

Bitcoin (BTC): $115,023 (+3.2%)
Ethereum (ETH): $4,154 (+8.7%)
Ripple (XRP): $2.62 (+9.6%)
Stellar (XLM): $0.35 (+7.8%)
Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR): $0.19 (+10.5%)
Flare Networks (FLR): $0.0205 (+6.2%)
XDC Network (XDC): $0.064 (+5.2%)

What to watch

Looking ahead, there are several key developments to keep an eye on:

Ethereum’s Fusaka Testing: Ethereum is undergoing important testing phases for upgrades aimed at improving scalability and efficiency. This could pave the way for more users and applications on its network.
Institutional Adoption: Projects like Chainlink are making strides in bringing real-world data and financial standards on-chain, which may attract more institutional investors and traditional businesses to blockchain.
Market Stability: Despite recent price shocks, major players like Marathon (a Bitcoin mining firm) are actively accumulating Bitcoin, signaling confidence in the long-term value of crypto assets.
Regulatory Developments: Stay informed about government actions and regulations, especially in the U.S., as these can impact market dynamics and investor confidence.
Open Infrastructure Initiatives: Follow projects promoting open and decentralized systems, like Stellar’s new initiatives, which aim to create more inclusive and interoperable blockchain ecosystems.

TL;DR: Bitcoin and Ethereum continue to climb, with Ethereum showing particularly strong gains. Rising interest in projects like Ripple, Stellar, Hedera, Flare Networks, and XDC highlights the growing focus on practical blockchain applications in finance and business. Builders are actively improving networks and pushing for open, decentralized infrastructure. Keep an eye on Ethereum’s upgrades, institutional integration efforts, and regulatory news to navigate the evolving crypto landscape.

Sources

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Bitcoin, Ethereum Rise Strong; Ripple, Stellar, Hedera Gain on Real-World Use Cases