Bitcoin tops $90K as Stellar and Hedera advance composability and trust layers

What shipped

As we step into early 2026, the cryptocurrency market is showing promising momentum, with several notable updates from leading blockchain projects like Ripple, Stellar, Hedera, Flare Network, and XDC Network. Bitcoin, the pioneer of digital currency, has surpassed the $90,000 mark, trading at around $90,149 with a solid 24-hour gain of 1.8%. Ethereum, the world’s most popular smart contract platform, is also on the rise, recently hitting $3,124.98, up over 4% in the last day.

Among the altcoins, Ripple (XRP) and Stellar (XLM) have demonstrated particularly strong growth, with Ripple up 8.5% and Stellar rising nearly 7.8%. These two projects are well-known for their focus on fast, low-cost cross-border payments. Hedera Hashgraph, a platform known for its unique consensus algorithm that offers speed and security, has also gained attention with a 6.5% increase, now priced around $0.12.

Several important developments from these platforms have been highlighted recently:

• Stellar’s 2025 Year in Review: Stellar has had a remarkable year, advancing its ecosystem and improving composability, which means different applications can now work together more seamlessly on the Stellar network. This progress paves the way for more innovative decentralized finance (DeFi) projects and tokenization efforts, such as the RedSwan project that enables tokenizing real estate assets.
• Hedera’s 2025 Highlights: Hedera has focused on building trust and developer engagement with a series of updates that enhance its network’s functionality and user experience. This includes improvements in governance—the way decisions are made on the network—and new tools for developers to build reliable decentralized applications (dApps).
• Chainlink’s Role in Onchain Finance: Chainlink, a decentralized oracle network that connects smart contracts to real-world data, continues to dominate the onchain finance space by providing trustworthy data feeds essential for many blockchain applications.

Why it matters

For newcomers and seasoned investors alike, these updates signal a growing maturity in the blockchain ecosystem. When projects like Stellar improve composability, it means the technology becomes more flexible and easier to build upon. This encourages innovation and attracts more developers, which can lead to a broader range of useful applications for everyday users.

Tokenizing real-world assets such as real estate, as seen with Stellar’s RedSwan initiative, is a big step forward. Tokenization converts physical assets into digital tokens on the blockchain, making them easier to buy, sell, and trade. This could open investment opportunities to a wider audience and increase market liquidity—meaning assets can be exchanged more quickly and efficiently.

Similarly, Hedera’s focus on building a “trust layer” highlights the importance of security and governance in decentralized systems. Trust is a key factor for wider adoption, especially for businesses and governments considering blockchain solutions. With transparent governance and reliable infrastructure, platforms like Hedera can serve as foundational layers for future digital economies.

Bitcoin’s climb above $90,000 reflects continued confidence in the leading cryptocurrency as a store of value, sometimes called “digital gold.” Ethereum’s growth underscores its ongoing role as the backbone for decentralized applications, from finance to gaming.

Builders’ corner

If you’re an aspiring blockchain developer or just curious about how these projects work, here are a few highlights from the recent updates that might inspire you:

• Stellar’s Composability: This means different smart contracts and applications on Stellar can now interact more easily. If you’re building on Stellar, you can create complex financial services by combining simple building blocks, much like stacking Lego pieces.
• Hedera’s Developer Tools: Hedera has released new resources to help developers build fast and secure applications. Whether you are creating supply chain solutions or new financial products, these tools can help simplify the process.
• Chainlink Oracles: Smart contracts often need external data (like price feeds or weather information) to work properly. Chainlink provides this data in a decentralized way, ensuring accuracy and trustworthiness. Integrating Chainlink can enhance your dApp’s capabilities.

For those interested in tokenization, exploring projects like RedSwan on Stellar can provide real-world examples of how blockchain is transforming traditional asset classes. Getting hands-on with these platforms can be a great way to learn and contribute to the growing ecosystem.

Quick prices

• Bitcoin (BTC): $90,149 (+1.8% in 24h)
• Ethereum (ETH): $3,124.98 (+4.2%)
• Ripple (XRP): $2.03 (+8.5%)
• Stellar (XLM): $0.223 (+7.8%)
• Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR): $0.121 (+6.6%)
• Flare Network (FLR): $0.011 (+4.5%)
• XDC Network (XDC): $0.052 (+1.0%)

What to watch

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

• Stellar’s Ecosystem Growth: With its focus on composability and tokenization, Stellar could see new partnerships and projects that expand its use cases, especially in real estate and cross-border payments.
• Hedera’s Trust Layer Expansion: How Hedera continues to develop its governance model and developer tools will be crucial for attracting enterprise clients and building scalable dApps.
• Ripple’s Legal and Regulatory Progress: Ripple has been working through regulatory challenges, and any positive developments could have a significant impact on XRP’s adoption and price.
• Bitcoin Price Patterns: With Bitcoin recently breaking above $90,000, traders and investors will be watching to see if this momentum continues or if a new price pattern emerges.
• Chainlink’s Integration Growth: As decentralized finance expands, Chainlink’s role as a data provider will be increasingly important. Watching new partnerships and data feeds can provide insight into onchain finance trends.

For anyone new to cryptocurrency, this is an exciting time. The technology is evolving rapidly with practical applications emerging that could change how we invest, transact, and interact with digital assets. Staying informed and learning about these projects can help you make better decisions as you explore the blockchain space.

TL;DR: Bitcoin and Ethereum prices are rising, with Bitcoin surpassing $90,000. Stellar and Hedera have made important ecosystem improvements in 2025, focusing on composability and trust, which enable more complex and reliable blockchain applications. Ripple and Stellar continue strong growth, especially in cross-border payments and tokenization like real estate. Chainlink remains a key player in providing trusted data to smart contracts. The blockchain space is maturing with exciting developments for investors and developers alike.