Etherfuse Launches Sovereign Currencies Onchain; Stellar & Chainlink Roll Out Key Upgrades

What Shipped

This week in the blockchain space, several exciting developments have taken place, especially around some of the well-known organizations like Ripple, Stellar, Hedera, Flare Network, and XDC Network. One of the standout news items is the launch of Etherfuse, a project aiming to bring 100 sovereign currencies onchain. This means that traditional government-issued currencies could be digitized and operate on blockchain networks, making cross-border payments and financial inclusion much easier and faster.

Additionally, Stellar released its Protocol 24 Upgrade Guide, providing developers with important instructions on how to implement the latest improvements to the Stellar blockchain. This upgrade brings enhanced features and better performance to the network, which supports fast and low-cost transactions.

Stellar also announced the Stellar i³ Awards 2025. This initiative celebrates innovators and projects building on the Stellar blockchain, encouraging more creative and impactful solutions in the ecosystem.

Chainlink, another key player in blockchain technology, shared its Q3 2025 Quarterly Review and announced it won the prestigious SWIFT Hackathon 2025 Business Challenge. Chainlink also introduced DataLink, a new product designed to bring institutional market data onchain, helping decentralized applications access accurate and reliable data.

Why It Matters

Bringing sovereign currencies onchain through projects like Etherfuse is a big deal because it bridges the gap between traditional finance and blockchain technology. When national currencies become digital assets on a blockchain, it can drastically reduce the time and cost involved in sending money across borders. For example, imagine sending money to family overseas within seconds rather than days, and with lower fees. This can especially benefit people in countries with less efficient banking systems.

The Stellar Protocol 24 upgrade is important because it ensures the network stays modern and competitive. Upgrades like this can improve transaction speed, security, and the ability to support more complex applications. For investors and users, this means a better experience and more trust in the network.

Chainlink’s success in the SWIFT Hackathon highlights the growing acceptance of blockchain oracles—tools that bring real-world data into the blockchain environment. DataLink, their new service, will allow smart contracts (self-executing contracts with the terms directly written into code) to access accurate market data, making decentralized finance (DeFi) applications more reliable and useful.

Finally, the focus on organizations like Ripple and Stellar is noteworthy because these companies are working on real-world payment solutions that can make financial systems more inclusive and efficient globally.

Builders’ Corner

If you’re a developer or just curious about how these innovations come to life, here are some interesting highlights:

Etherfuse: This project is working on tokenizing 100 different sovereign currencies. Tokenization means representing physical money as digital tokens on a blockchain, enabling easy and secure transfers.
Stellar Protocol 24 Upgrade: This upgrade introduces new features like improved transaction types and enhanced security protocols. Developers working on Stellar-based apps should read the upgrade guide to ensure their apps remain compatible and take advantage of new capabilities.
Chainlink DataLink: This new tool helps smart contracts access verified market data from traditional financial markets, opening doors for more sophisticated DeFi applications such as automated trading and insurance products.

For builders interested in Ripple, Stellar, Hedera, Flare Network, or XDC Network, now is a great time to explore their documentation and developer communities. These platforms continue to innovate and offer tools to build scalable and efficient blockchain applications.

Quick Prices

Bitcoin (BTC): $115,504 (+1.7% in 24 hours) – Bitcoin remains the flagship cryptocurrency, showing steady growth.
Ethereum (ETH): $4,213.70 (+3.9% in 24 hours) – Ethereum’s price increase reflects growing interest in smart contracts and DeFi.
Flare Networks (FLR): $0.0176 (+1.4%) – Flare is gaining attention for its unique approach to integrating smart contracts with other blockchains.
Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR): $0.1829 (+2.0%) – Known for its fast and energy-efficient consensus method, Hedera continues to build momentum.
Ripple (XRP): $2.69 (+2.3%) – Ripple focuses on cross-border payments using blockchain technology.
Stellar (XLM): $0.33 (-0.07%) – Stellar is stable, with slight fluctuations as it continues to enhance its network.
XDC Network (XDCE): $0.0624 (+0.03%) – XDC is a hybrid blockchain aimed at enterprise use cases.

What to Watch

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

Adoption of Sovereign Currencies Onchain: Watch how Etherfuse progresses in tokenizing and listing 100 national currencies. This could be a game-changer for global finance.
Stellar’s Protocol Upgrades: Developers and investors should monitor how the new features impact transaction speeds and network adoption.
Chainlink’s DataLink Impact: As institutional data becomes available onchain, expect more complex DeFi products and partnerships with traditional finance.
Regulatory Environment: Recent reports show increased crypto activity in places like South Korea linked to sanctioned entities. Staying informed about regulations is key for all investors.
Market Sentiment: Keep an eye on price movements of major assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum, as well as newer projects like Flare and Hedera, to understand broader trends.

TL;DR: This week, blockchain innovation continues with Etherfuse’s plan to bring real-world currencies onchain, Stellar’s important network upgrade, and Chainlink’s new DataLink product enhancing decentralized finance. Prices for major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum are up, signaling optimism. Builders have new tools and guides to explore, and investors should watch for growing adoption and regulatory developments.

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Etherfuse Launches Sovereign Currencies Onchain; Stellar & Chainlink Roll Out Key Upgrades