What Shipped
Welcome to our February 2026 blockchain update! This week, several exciting developments have taken place across various blockchain projects, especially focusing on Ripple, Stellar, Hedera, Flare Network, and XDC Network. These projects are pushing forward with innovations that make blockchain technology more accessible, secure, and practical for real-world use.
Here are some highlights:
- Stellar has launched new tools aimed at bringing culture onto the blockchain in a seamless and invisible way, allowing artists and creators to embed their work directly on-chain without complicating user experience. They also introduced a new way to verify complex computations on their smart contracts using RISC Zero, a technology that helps prove calculations were done correctly without revealing sensitive data.
- Hedera Hashgraph announced that FedEx has joined their governing council, a big vote of confidence for their network’s future in global supply chains. They also updated their payment standards with the new x402 protocol to improve how digital payments work on their network. Additionally, Hedera provided guidance on migrating from an older account balance query system to a newer one, helping developers keep their apps up to date.
- Ripple and other projects continue to emphasize improving cross-border payments, which means making it easier and cheaper to send money internationally using blockchain technology.
- Flare Network and XDC Network continue steady progress, maintaining their focus on interoperability (letting different blockchains work together) and enterprise solutions.
Why It Matters
Blockchain technology is often seen as complex and abstract, but these updates show how it’s becoming more practical and integrated into everyday life. For example, Stellar’s efforts to bring culture onchain invisibly means artists can protect and share their work without needing to understand complicated tech.
Hedera’s partnership with FedEx highlights how blockchain can revolutionize supply chains by making them more transparent and efficient. When big companies adopt blockchain, it validates the technology and increases trust among investors and users.
Cross-border payments remain a powerful use case for blockchain because traditional methods can be slow and expensive. Improvements here could make sending money internationally as easy and cheap as sending a text message.
Builders’ Corner
If you’re a developer or someone interested in building on these networks, here are some concrete things to check out:
- Stellar’s RISC Zero integration: This is a new way to verify smart contract computations without exposing private data. It’s great for developers wanting to build privacy-focused apps.
- Hedera’s migration guide: If you already have apps on Hedera, their recent instructions on moving from the old AccountBalanceQuery to the new system will help keep your projects running smoothly and take advantage of improved features.
- Flare Network’s interoperability tools: Flare is working on connecting different blockchains, so developers interested in multi-chain projects should keep an eye on their updates.
If you’re new to blockchain development, these projects offer friendly documentation and community support to help you get started.
Quick Prices
As of February 15, 2026, here’s a quick look at some key cryptocurrency prices and their 24-hour changes:
- Bitcoin (BTC): $68,240 (-2.2%)
- Ethereum (ETH): $1,936.61 (-7.1%)
- Ripple (XRP): $1.46 (-1.8%)
- Stellar (XLM): $0.168 (-3.9%)
- Hedera (HBAR): $0.098 (-5.5%)
- Flare Network (FLR): $0.0098 (-1.3%)
- XDC Network (XDCE): $0.036 (-1.9%)
While prices have dipped slightly in the last day, it’s important to remember that cryptocurrency markets are often volatile in the short term. The focus should be on long-term growth and the underlying technology developments.
What to Watch
- Hong Kong’s crypto regulations: Hong Kong is actively working on building clearer regulations for cryptocurrencies, which could lead to increased adoption and investor confidence in the region.
- Blockchain transparency efforts: Founders in the space are emphasizing the importance of transparency to combat insider trading and improve trust, which is a positive sign for the industry’s maturity.
- Institutional views on Bitcoin: While Bitcoin remains strong, some experts warn that volatility driven by leverage (borrowing to invest) could challenge its narrative as a stable, institutional asset. Watching how this evolves can help investors make informed decisions.
- Continued adoption by enterprises: Keep an eye on partnerships like FedEx joining Hedera, as more big companies getting involved usually signals growing trust and real-world use cases for blockchain.
TL;DR: This week’s blockchain news highlights practical advancements from Stellar, Hedera, Ripple, and others that make blockchain more accessible and useful. Stellar is making culture onchain easier, Hedera is teaming up with FedEx to improve supply chains, and cross-border payments continue to get better. Prices have seen a slight dip, but the focus remains on long-term growth and adoption. Keep an eye on regulatory changes and enterprise partnerships that will shape the future of crypto.
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