Bitcoin rises; Stellar advances privacy pools and cuts cross-border payroll costs

What Shipped

Today, the cryptocurrency market shows some interesting movements, especially among key players like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and a handful of emerging blockchain projects including Ripple, Stellar, Hedera Hashgraph, Flare Network, and XDC Network. Bitcoin continues its upward trend, currently trading at around $92,148, marking a healthy 1.73% increase over the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, Ethereum has experienced a slight dip, down by about 0.58%, priced at $3,233.78.

Among the smaller but promising networks, Ripple and Stellar both recorded modest gains of 0.71% and 0.39% respectively, trading at $2.03 and $0.245. On the downside, Hedera Hashgraph, Flare Network, and XDC Network saw slight declines, with Hedera falling by 1.43% to $0.13, Flare Network down 0.27% to $0.0125, and XDC Network slipping 1.6% to $0.049.

In terms of recent developments, Stellar has been particularly active, unveiling new initiatives aimed at enhancing privacy and reducing costs in the blockchain space. Notably, Stellar is prototyping “privacy pools,” a new way to help users keep their transactions confidential on a public blockchain. Additionally, Airtm, a payment platform built on Stellar, announced a significant reduction in cross-border payroll costs by 20-25%, making it cheaper and easier for companies to pay employees across different countries.

Why It Matters

Understanding these updates is crucial because they reflect ongoing improvements in blockchain technology that benefit both users and investors. Let’s break down some key points:

• Bitcoin’s Growth: Bitcoin remains the flagship cryptocurrency, and its steady price increase signals sustained investor confidence. For newcomers, this stability can be reassuring when considering entry into the crypto market.
• Ethereum’s Slight Dip: Ethereum’s slight price decline is normal in a volatile market. Given Ethereum’s widespread use for decentralized apps (dApps) and smart contracts, short-term fluctuations don’t diminish its long-term potential.
• Privacy Pools on Stellar: Privacy pools are a new feature designed to protect users’ transaction details. This is important because many people want the benefits of blockchain—like transparency and security—without revealing their personal financial activity. Stellar’s move here shows the network’s commitment to balancing openness with privacy.
• Lower Cross-Border Costs: Airtm’s reduction of payroll costs by 20-25% on Stellar is a big deal. Cross-border payments can be expensive and slow with traditional banking. Blockchain solutions like this make it cheaper and faster, opening up global job markets and improving financial inclusion.
• Regulatory and Industry News: On the policy front, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has granted some flexibility to platforms like Polymarket and Gemini regarding data rules. This kind of regulatory clarity helps build trust and encourages innovation in the crypto space.

Builders’ Corner

For those interested in the technical or development side, here are some highlights worth following:

• Stellar’s Privacy Pools: Developers are experimenting with “privacy pools” to allow users to combine their transactions, making it difficult to trace individual payments. This technique, inspired by privacy-focused cryptocurrencies, is being adapted for Stellar’s ecosystem.
• Cross-Border Payroll Solutions: Airtm’s integration with Stellar demonstrates how blockchain can solve real-world problems like payroll processing. Builders should watch how this platform scales and whether other services adopt similar models.
• Chainlink’s Compliance Tools: Chainlink recently published insights on compliance and cross-border payments, emphasizing the importance of regulatory adherence while maintaining decentralized finance (DeFi) innovation. Builders should consider compliance as a core part of their projects.
• New Developments on Hedera and Flare: While both Hedera and Flare saw slight price declines, their teams continue working on enterprise-grade blockchain solutions and interoperability features. These projects aim to connect different blockchains, making it easier for users and businesses to move assets and data.

Quick Prices (as of December 11, 2025, 21:01 ET)

• Bitcoin (BTC): $92,148 (+1.73% in 24h)
• Ethereum (ETH): $3,233.78 (-0.58% in 24h)
• Ripple (XRP): $2.03 (+0.71% in 24h)
• Stellar (XLM): $0.245 (+0.39% in 24h)
• Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR): $0.13 (-1.43% in 24h)
• Flare Network (FLR): $0.0125 (-0.27% in 24h)
• XDC Network (XDC): $0.049 (-1.6% in 24h)

What to Watch

Looking ahead, here are some key areas to keep an eye on:

• Privacy Enhancements: Watch how privacy pools evolve on Stellar and whether other blockchains adopt similar features. Increased privacy options can attract more users who value confidentiality.
• Cross-Border Payment Innovations: With Airtm reducing payroll costs significantly, more companies might explore blockchain-based payment solutions. This could lead to wider adoption of networks like Stellar and Ripple for international transactions.
• Regulatory Developments: The recent regulatory updates from the CFTC and the U.S. Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) suggest that authorities are refining their stance on digital assets. Investors should stay informed as clearer rules often lead to increased market stability.
• Legal Outcomes in Crypto: The sentencing of Terraform Labs founder Do Kwon to 15 years in prison is a reminder of the importance of transparency and trust in the crypto space. This case may influence how projects manage compliance and investor protections.
• Interoperability Projects: Keep an eye on Hedera and Flare as they work on connecting different blockchains. Improved interoperability can unlock new use cases and make the crypto ecosystem more user-friendly.

TL;DR: Bitcoin is up, Ethereum slightly down, with Ripple and Stellar showing small gains. Stellar is leading with exciting privacy and cost-saving features, including privacy pools and cheaper cross-border payroll. Regulatory bodies are providing clearer guidance, helping the market mature. Builders are focusing on privacy, compliance, and interoperability. Overall, the crypto space continues to innovate and grow, offering promising opportunities for investors and users alike.