What shipped
February 2026 has been an exciting month in the blockchain space, with several notable updates from key projects such as Ripple, Stellar, Hedera Hashgraph, Flare Network, and XDC Network. These organizations are making progress on improving blockchain technology and expanding its real-world applications.
Bitcoin and Ethereum, the two largest cryptocurrencies, have seen steady price increases in the last 24 hours—Bitcoin is up nearly 2% to around $67,579, and Ethereum is up about 2.3% to nearly $1,965. This positive momentum reflects growing investor confidence and continued adoption.
Meanwhile, smaller but promising projects are also gaining traction. For example, Stellar’s native token has increased by almost 3%, trading at $0.16, and Hedera Hashgraph’s token rose over 3% to just under $0.10. Flare Network and XDC Network also show positive price moves, signaling growing interest in these platforms.
Why it matters
These developments highlight the expanding role of blockchain beyond just cryptocurrencies. Projects like Ripple and Stellar focus on improving cross-border payments, making it faster and cheaper to send money internationally. This can especially benefit people who send remittances or businesses that operate globally.
Hedera Hashgraph is gaining attention for its unique technology, which offers fast and secure transactions with low fees. Their recent news that FedEx has joined the Hedera Council is significant—it means a major global logistics company believes in the future of decentralized supply chain management. This partnership could lead to more efficient tracking and transparency in shipping goods worldwide.
Flare Network and XDC Network are also pushing forward with innovative blockchain solutions. Flare aims to bring smart contract capabilities to networks that don’t have them natively, while XDC focuses on enterprise blockchain applications, including trade finance and tokenization.
Additionally, the ongoing conversation around Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus mechanisms—highlighted in Stellar’s recent blog post about the hidden risks of PoS—shows the community’s commitment to understanding and improving blockchain security and sustainability.
Builders’ corner
If you’re new to blockchain or considering investing, here’s a quick explanation of some important terms and concepts:
- Proof-of-Stake (PoS): A way to secure a blockchain by having participants “stake” their coins to validate transactions, which is more energy-efficient than the older Proof-of-Work method.
- Tokenization: Turning real-world assets like real estate or art into digital tokens on a blockchain, making them easier to buy, sell, and trade.
- Cross-Border Payments: Sending money across countries, which blockchain can make faster and cheaper compared to traditional banks.
- Decentralized Supply Chains: Using blockchain to track products from origin to destination, increasing transparency and reducing fraud.
Recent news also highlights practical steps developers and businesses are taking. For example, Hedera recently updated its tools to make it easier for developers to migrate from older query methods, improving user experience. Meanwhile, Dubai has launched a secondary market for tokenized real estate, showing how blockchain can revolutionize property trading by making transactions faster and more transparent.
Quick prices
- Bitcoin (BTC): $67,579 (+1.94% in 24h)
- Ethereum (ETH): $1,965.37 (+2.34% in 24h)
- Flare Network (FLR): $0.0095 (+2.81% in 24h)
- Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR): $0.0998 (+3.15% in 24h)
- Ripple (XRP): $1.43 (+2.43% in 24h)
- Stellar (XLM): $0.163 (+2.92% in 24h)
- XDC Network (XDCE): $0.0349 (+0.21% in 24h)
What to watch
Looking ahead, here are some key areas to keep an eye on:
- Proof-of-Stake security: As PoS becomes more popular, understanding its risks and benefits will be crucial for investors and developers alike. Stellar’s recent blog post offers a thoughtful discussion worth reading.
- Real-world asset tokenization: With Dubai’s $16 billion tokenization plan for real estate, we expect more governments and companies to adopt blockchain for asset trading, potentially opening new investment opportunities.
- Enterprise blockchain partnerships: FedEx joining Hedera’s council signals growing corporate trust in blockchain solutions. Watch for more collaborations that can drive mainstream adoption.
- Cross-border payments innovations: Ripple and Stellar continue to improve international money transfers, which could disrupt traditional finance and benefit millions of users worldwide.
- Developer tools and upgrades: Keep an eye on updates that simplify blockchain development, making it easier for new projects to launch and grow.
By following these trends and understanding the technology behind them, newcomers can make more informed decisions and appreciate how blockchain is shaping the future of finance, commerce, and beyond.
TL;DR: Major blockchain projects like Ripple, Stellar, Hedera, Flare, and XDC are making steady progress, with positive price moves and exciting partnerships such as FedEx joining Hedera. Innovations in cross-border payments, tokenization of real-world assets, and improvements in blockchain security and developer tools are driving adoption. Keep an eye on Proof-of-Stake risks, real estate tokenization, and enterprise collaborations as blockchain continues to transform global finance and commerce.
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