What Shipped
February 2026 has been an exciting month for blockchain enthusiasts and investors, especially those following Ripple, Stellar, Hedera, Flare Network, and XDC Network. These projects have been busy rolling out new updates, sharing insightful reports, and expanding their partnerships.
Ripple and Stellar, both known for improving cross-border payments, have shown positive price movements recently. Ripple’s XRP is up about 1.04% in the last 24 hours, trading at $1.35, while Stellar’s XLM rose nearly 0.9% to $0.15. These gains reflect growing confidence in their technology and use cases.
Hedera Hashgraph, a platform known for fast and secure transactions using a unique consensus method (different from blockchain but aiming for similar goals), saw its price increase by almost 1% to $0.0946. Notably, Hedera announced that FedEx has joined its governing council. This is a big deal because it means a global logistics giant is backing Hedera’s vision for improving supply chains through digital technology.
On the other hand, Flare Network and XDC Network experienced slight declines. Flare’s token price dipped by 0.15%, trading at just under one cent ($0.0090), and XDC dropped nearly 1%, now at $0.0337. While these are small decreases, they remind us that the crypto market remains volatile.
Besides price updates, several important blog posts and reports were released. Stellar published a thoughtful article discussing the hidden risks of “proof-of-stake” – a popular method blockchains use to validate transactions without needing energy-heavy mining. This piece helps investors understand that while proof-of-stake has many benefits, it also carries challenges worth considering.
Hedera shared guidance on migrating from older account query methods to newer standards, making it easier for developers and users to interact with their network. They also highlighted the x402 payment standard, aiming to simplify digital payments worldwide.
Meanwhile, Stellar’s developer blog explored advanced privacy technologies such as MPC (Multi-Party Computation), FHE (Fully Homomorphic Encryption), and TEEs (Trusted Execution Environments) to build “dark pools.” Dark pools are private trading venues that help large investors buy or sell assets without affecting market prices too much.
Why It Matters
Understanding these updates is important because they show how blockchain networks are evolving beyond simple digital currencies. They are becoming platforms that support real-world applications like global payments, supply chain tracking, and confidential trading.
For example, Ripple and Stellar focus on making cross-border payments faster and cheaper. Traditional international transfers can take days and cost a lot in fees. These networks use blockchain technology to reduce those delays and costs, benefiting businesses and consumers worldwide.
Hedera’s collaboration with FedEx highlights how blockchain-based networks can improve supply chain transparency. This means better tracking of goods, reducing fraud, and making logistics more efficient – all crucial for global trade.
Moreover, discussions about proof-of-stake risks remind investors to look closely at how networks secure themselves. While proof-of-stake reduces energy consumption compared to older proof-of-work systems (used by Bitcoin), it can introduce other risks like concentration of power among a few validators. Being aware of these factors helps investors make informed decisions.
Builders’ Corner
If you’re curious about the technology behind these projects, here are some key points to understand:
- Proof-of-Stake (PoS): A method blockchains use to agree on transaction validity without mining. Validators “stake” tokens as collateral, encouraging honest behavior.
- Multi-Party Computation (MPC): A cryptographic technique allowing multiple parties to compute data together without revealing their inputs, enhancing privacy.
- Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE): A way to perform calculations on encrypted data, so sensitive info remains secure even during processing.
- Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs): Secure areas within processors that protect code and data from unauthorized access.
- Digital Asset Tokenization: Converting physical or traditional assets into digital tokens on a blockchain, making them easier to trade and manage.
These technologies empower developers to build applications that are faster, more secure, and privacy-focused. For example, Stellar’s work on dark pools uses MPC, FHE, and TEEs to allow large trades without revealing sensitive details publicly.
Quick Prices
- Bitcoin (BTC): $64,134 (-0.69% in 24h)
- Ethereum (ETH): $1,840.66 (-1.04% in 24h)
- Ripple (XRP): $1.35 (+1.04% in 24h)
- Stellar (XLM): $0.1517 (+0.90% in 24h)
- Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR): $0.0946 (+0.97% in 24h)
- Flare Network (FLR): $0.0090 (-0.15% in 24h)
- XDC Network (XDC): $0.0337 (-0.99% in 24h)
What to Watch
Looking ahead, there are several trends and events to keep an eye on:
- Adoption of Blockchain in Global Supply Chains: With companies like FedEx joining Hedera’s council, we expect more enterprises to explore blockchain solutions for logistics.
- Cross-Border Payment Innovations: Ripple and Stellar continue to push for faster, cheaper international transfers. Watch for new partnerships and regulatory developments that could accelerate adoption.
- Privacy Enhancements: Technologies like MPC, FHE, and TEEs are becoming critical for confidential trading and data security. Stellar’s experiments with dark pools could set new standards.
- Proof-of-Stake Discussions: As more networks use PoS, understanding its risks and benefits will be key for investors and developers alike.
- AI and Blockchain Integration: Recent launches like NEAR.com’s super app, featuring AI and confidential transactions, show how blockchain and AI may combine to create smarter decentralized applications.
By staying informed about these developments, newcomers and experienced investors can better navigate the evolving blockchain landscape and spot promising opportunities.
TL;DR: Ripple, Stellar, and Hedera are making strides in cross-border payments and supply chain solutions, with recent price gains reflecting growing confidence. Hedera’s partnership with FedEx and Stellar’s exploration of privacy tech highlight practical blockchain uses. While Bitcoin and Ethereum saw slight dips, innovative projects continue to build the future of digital assets. Keep an eye on enterprise adoption, privacy advances, and proof-of-stake discussions for what’s next.
Add comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.