February 2026 Blockchain Update: Stellar Privacy, Hedera Enterprise Growth, Cross-Border Payments

What shipped

February 2026 has been an exciting month for blockchain enthusiasts, especially those interested in projects like Ripple, Stellar, Hedera, Flare Network, and XDC Network. These organizations continue to push forward with new developments that make blockchain technology more accessible, efficient, and practical for real-world use.

On the Stellar network, several updates have been announced that focus on enhancing privacy, compliance, and smart contract capabilities. For example, the integration of IRL × Stellar is a project aimed at bringing cultural experiences onto the blockchain in a seamless and almost invisible way. This means users can enjoy digital culture and art powered by Stellar without the usual complexity.

Another technical breakthrough on Stellar is the verification of RISC Zero execution within a Stellar smart contract. In simple terms, this allows developers to prove that certain computations happened correctly off-chain (outside the blockchain) and then verify the results on-chain, saving time and reducing costs.

Additionally, Stellar is working on privacy features that are open by default but private when needed. This is important because it balances transparency (so regulators and users can trust the system) with privacy (so sensitive information stays protected).

Meanwhile, Hedera Hashgraph, known for its fast and secure distributed ledger technology, has announced some key updates. They recently shared guidance on migrating from AccountBalanceQuery, which is a technical step developers need to take for smoother application performance.

In exciting news for enterprise adoption, FedEx has joined the Hedera Governing Council. The Governing Council is a group of global companies that help oversee the Hedera network. FedEx’s involvement signals strong interest in using blockchain to improve global supply chains, making shipping faster, cheaper, and more transparent.

Hedera also announced support for the x402 payment standard, which aims to simplify and standardize payments across different systems, making cross-border transactions smoother.

Outside of these networks, Chainlink has been sharing insights on how blockchain can improve cross-border payments and support stablecoin issuers — companies that create cryptocurrencies pegged to stable assets like the US dollar. Their blog posts explain how decentralized oracle networks (which bring real-world data onto blockchains) are helping grow the stablecoin ecosystem.

On the regulatory front, Hong Kong’s financial regulator recently approved its first crypto company license since June 2025, signaling a renewed openness to crypto businesses in the region. This is a positive sign for the industry’s ongoing integration with traditional finance.

Why it matters

These updates show how blockchain is moving beyond simple digital currencies to become a foundational technology for culture, finance, and global commerce.

• Making culture digital and accessible: Projects like IRL × Stellar help bring art, music, and cultural experiences onto the blockchain, opening new ways for creators to share and monetize their work.
• Balancing privacy and compliance: As blockchain networks grow, they need to be transparent enough to gain trust but private enough to protect users. Stellar’s approach shows a practical way forward.
• Enterprise adoption: Big companies like FedEx joining Hedera’s council highlight blockchain’s potential to improve supply chains, reducing delays and costs in shipping goods worldwide.
• Improved payments: Standards like x402 and innovations from Chainlink help make cross-border payments faster, cheaper, and more reliable, benefiting businesses and consumers alike.
• Regulatory progress: Hong Kong’s licensing move encourages more crypto companies to operate legally and safely, which is good for investor confidence and industry growth.

Builders’ corner

If you’re a developer or just curious about how these networks work, here are some interesting points to explore:

• Stellar smart contracts with RISC Zero: This technology lets you run complex programs off the blockchain but still prove their correctness on-chain. It’s a great way to save on fees and speed up transactions.
• Privacy features on Stellar: Learn how you can build applications that are transparent by default but allow users to hide sensitive data when needed, which is crucial for compliance with regulations like GDPR.
• Hedera’s migration from AccountBalanceQuery: If you build apps on Hedera, updating your code to use the latest queries will help them run faster and more efficiently.
• Joining the Hedera Governing Council: For enterprises, this is a chance to help shape the future of a public ledger designed for large-scale business use.

Quick prices (as of 2026-02-16 13:01 ET)

What to watch

Looking ahead, here are some key things to keep an eye on in the blockchain space:

• Enterprise blockchain adoption: With companies like FedEx joining Hedera’s council, watch for more real-world use cases that improve supply chains, logistics, and global trade.
• Privacy and compliance innovations: As governments introduce clearer regulations, blockchains that balance openness with privacy will likely see more adoption.
• Cross-border payments: Solutions that make sending money internationally faster and cheaper, such as those supported by Chainlink and Hedera’s x402 standard, will continue to grow.
• Regulatory environment: Keep an eye on how regulators in major markets like Hong Kong respond to crypto companies, as this will influence global industry growth.
• Developer tools and smart contracts: New technologies that make it easier and cheaper to run applications on blockchains, like RISC Zero verification on Stellar, will attract more developers and projects.

TL;DR: February 2026 brings promising updates from Ripple, Stellar, Hedera, Flare, and XDC networks, focusing on cultural projects, privacy, compliance, and enterprise adoption. Big companies like FedEx joining blockchain councils show growing trust in the technology. Prices remain strong for major coins, and innovations in smart contracts and payments hint at a bright future for blockchain’s role in global finance and commerce.