What shipped
As of February 22, 2026, the cryptocurrency market shows a mix of stability and slight fluctuations. Bitcoin, the most well-known digital currency, is trading at about $68,021, experiencing a minor 0.17% drop in the last 24 hours. Ethereum, another major player known for its smart contract capabilities, has risen slightly by 0.20% to approximately $1,975.25.
Among the focus projects, Ripple (XRP) is priced at $1.42 but has seen a 1.28% decline over the past day. Stellar, a blockchain designed for fast and low-cost cross-border payments, is at $0.1566 but down by 4%, marking its biggest dip among the group. Hedera Hashgraph, an enterprise-grade public network known for its speed and security, is trading at just under 10 cents, with a 1.95% decrease. Flare Network, which brings smart contract functionality to tokens like XRP, is also slightly down by 0.28%, priced at less than one cent. XDC Network, focusing on hybrid blockchain solutions, is at roughly $0.035 with a 0.4% dip.
Why it matters
Understanding these price movements helps investors and newcomers get a feel for market sentiment and the evolving landscape of blockchain projects. Bitcoin’s recent slight dip doesn’t signal weakness but rather normal market ebb and flow, especially after its strong performance over recent years.
Ethereum’s steady growth reflects ongoing confidence in decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts, which allow developers to build programs that automatically execute when conditions are met. This technology underpins many innovations, from decentralized finance (DeFi) to non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
Projects like Ripple and Stellar emphasize improving cross-border payments — making international money transfers faster and cheaper than traditional methods. Their recent price changes may reflect broader market trends or specific updates within their ecosystems.
Builders’ corner
Several exciting developments have recently emerged from the focus organizations:
- Ripple continues to push for adoption in financial institutions, aiming to streamline global payments.
- Stellar published a detailed report for 2025, highlighting successful scaling of their network and innovative projects like “IRL × Stellar,” which integrates cultural elements into blockchain technology, making digital identities and assets more meaningful.
- Hedera Hashgraph announced that FedEx has joined its governing council, signaling trust from major global companies in Hedera’s technology for enhancing supply chain transparency. They also released guides for developers migrating to new query methods, easing the transition to more efficient tools.
- Flare Network is steadily advancing its smart contract capabilities, offering new ways to bring decentralized finance to tokens that previously lacked this functionality.
- XDC Network remains focused on hybrid blockchain solutions, blending public and private blockchain features to meet enterprise needs.
On the educational front, Stellar recently published an insightful article discussing “The Hidden Risks of Proof-of-Stake,” a popular consensus method used by many blockchains to confirm transactions. This piece helps newcomers understand potential challenges and encourages informed decision-making.
Quick prices
- Bitcoin (BTC): $68,021 (-0.17% 24h)
- Ethereum (ETH): $1,975.25 (+0.20% 24h)
- Ripple (XRP): $1.42 (-1.28% 24h)
- Stellar (XLM): $0.1566 (-4.01% 24h)
- Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR): $0.098 (-1.95% 24h)
- Flare Network (FLR): $0.0094 (-0.28% 24h)
- XDC Network (XDC): $0.035 (-0.41% 24h)
What to watch
Looking ahead, there are several trends and events worth following:
- Ethereum DAO Governance Innovation: Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin recently proposed using AI “stewards” to help improve decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), which are community-led groups managing projects without central leadership. This could make governance more efficient and fair.
- Blockchain and Cross-Border Payments: Technologies like Stellar and Ripple are at the forefront of making international payments faster and cheaper. Keep an eye on partnerships and adoption by banks and businesses.
- Digital Asset Regulation: The UK is evolving its approach to digital assets and tokenization, which may influence global standards and investor protections.
- Market Sentiment: Despite occasional spikes in “Bitcoin to zero” search queries, market signals remain mixed. This shows the importance of staying informed and not reacting impulsively to fear-driven news.
- Community and Ecosystem Growth: Projects like Hedera gaining support from major companies like FedEx indicate growing real-world use cases for blockchain technology beyond just trading tokens.
Lastly, a curious note: mentioning “bitcoin” or “crypto” in the Discord channel of an AI agent called OpenClaw reportedly results in a ban. This highlights ongoing tensions and challenges around cryptocurrency discussions in some tech communities.
TL;DR: Bitcoin and Ethereum remain strong with minor price changes, while Ripple, Stellar, and Hedera face slight dips amid ongoing development and partnerships. Stellar and Hedera are making significant progress in scaling and real-world applications, including supply chain and cultural projects. New ideas around blockchain governance and regulation are emerging, making this a promising time for blockchain enthusiasts and investors to stay informed and optimistic.
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