Etherfuse Advances Onchain Sovereign Currencies; Stellar and Chainlink Launch Key Upgrades

What Shipped

Several exciting developments have taken place recently in the blockchain space, especially around well-known networks like Ripple, Stellar, Hedera, Flare Network, and XDC Network. A standout project called Etherfuse is making waves by aiming to bring 100 sovereign currencies onchain. This means that traditional government-backed currencies could soon be represented digitally on blockchain networks, making cross-border payments faster and more transparent.

Stellar also released a Protocol 24 Upgrade Guide, which is an important update to their blockchain technology. This upgrade improves the network’s speed, security, and functionality, helping developers and users enjoy a smoother experience.

Additionally, Stellar celebrated innovation with the Stellar i³ Awards 2025, recognizing projects and developers contributing to the ecosystem. Meanwhile, Chainlink, a major player in bringing real-world data onto blockchains, shared their Quarterly Review and announced winning the Swift Hackathon 2025 Business Challenge. They also introduced DataLink, a new product designed to bring institutional market data directly onto blockchain networks.

On the market front, Bitcoin and Ethereum continue to show strength with positive price changes over the last 24 hours. The broader crypto market also saw a surge, especially in AI-focused miners, following a record $38 billion data center deal with Oracle, which is boosting confidence in the sector.

Why It Matters

Bringing sovereign currencies onchain, as Etherfuse aims to do, is a game-changer. Traditionally, moving money across borders can be slow, expensive, and complicated due to multiple intermediaries like banks and clearinghouses. By representing these currencies digitally on blockchain networks, transactions become faster, cheaper, and more transparent. This can improve financial inclusion, especially for people in countries with limited banking infrastructure.

Upgrades like Stellar’s Protocol 24 are important because they keep the technology current and efficient. Blockchain networks that regularly improve their protocols tend to be more secure and scalable, which means they can handle more users and transactions without slowing down or becoming vulnerable to attacks.

Chainlink’s advancements demonstrate the growing importance of reliable data on blockchains. Many decentralized applications, such as decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms, depend on accurate, real-world information like market prices, weather data, or sports scores. Products like DataLink help bring this data securely and efficiently onto blockchains, enabling smarter and more useful applications.

Market confidence is also a good sign. Bitcoin passing $111,000 and Ethereum nearing $4,000 indicate strong interest from investors. The surge in AI miners shows that blockchain technology is intersecting with other cutting-edge fields like artificial intelligence, potentially opening new opportunities for innovation and growth.

Builders’ Corner

Etherfuse: If you’re a developer, keep an eye on tools and APIs that let you work with sovereign currencies onchain. This could open new possibilities for building payment apps or cross-border financial services.
Stellar Protocol 24: Developers building on Stellar should review the upgrade guide to understand new features or changes. This will help ensure your applications remain compatible and can leverage improved performance.
Chainlink DataLink: For those creating decentralized apps needing reliable market data, DataLink offers a new way to integrate institutional-grade information securely.
Community Engagement: Participating in awards like Stellar’s i³ Awards or hackathons can be a great way to showcase your work, get feedback, and connect with other innovators.

Quick Prices

Bitcoin (BTC): $111,106 (up 1.47% in 24 hours)
Ethereum (ETH): $3,953.11 (up 1.69% in 24 hours)
Ripple (XRP): $2.45 (up 1.52% in 24 hours)
Stellar (XLM): $0.3159 (up 0.29% in 24 hours)
Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR): $0.1705 (up 0.64% in 24 hours)
Flare Network (FLR): $0.0171 (down 0.93% in 24 hours)
XDC Network (XDC): $0.0622 (down 0.06% in 24 hours)

What to Watch

Here are some key things to keep an eye on over the coming weeks and months:

Adoption of Onchain Sovereign Currencies: Will Etherfuse succeed in onboarding multiple national currencies? This could reshape how we think about money and payments globally.
Further Protocol Upgrades: Watch for additional improvements from Stellar and other blockchains that enhance speed, security, and user experience.
Chainlink’s Data Innovations: As more applications require trustworthy data, Chainlink’s solutions could become increasingly central to the blockchain ecosystem.
Market Trends: Keep an eye on Bitcoin and Ethereum price movements as well as emerging sectors like AI miners, which could signal new growth areas.
Geopolitical Events: The recent confirmation of a meeting between leaders Trump and Xi has positively influenced markets, showing how global politics can impact crypto prices.

TL;DR: Blockchain projects are making strong progress with innovations like Etherfuse’s plan to bring 100 sovereign currencies onchain and Stellar’s Protocol 24 upgrade improving network performance. Chainlink continues to lead in providing trusted real-world data to blockchains. Bitcoin and Ethereum prices are up, reflecting positive market sentiment. For newcomers and investors, this is a promising time to explore how blockchain is expanding beyond cryptocurrencies into real-world finance and data integration.

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Etherfuse Advances Onchain Sovereign Currencies; Stellar and Chainlink Launch Key Upgrades