What shipped
November has kicked off with some exciting developments in the crypto world, especially for networks like Stellar, Hedera, Ripple, Flare Network, and XDC Network. Notably, Stellar announced it will join Chainlink Scale. This means Stellar will start using Chainlink’s advanced data services, including Data Feeds, Data Streams, and the Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP), to power next-generation decentralized finance (DeFi) applications.
Meanwhile, Hedera Hashgraph saw a significant price increase of nearly 5% in the last 24 hours, reflecting growing interest and momentum. On another front, the project Etherfuse is working on bringing 100 sovereign currencies onchain, aiming to make it easier to represent traditional money digitally on blockchains. This could open doors to more seamless cross-border payments and financial services.
Chainlink itself shared a quarterly review highlighting its ongoing innovations and recent win at the Swift Hackathon 2025 Business Challenge. Such achievements underscore Chainlink’s role as a leader in connecting real-world data with blockchain technology.
Why it matters
For those newer to crypto, here’s why these updates are important:
- Data Feeds and Streams: These are services that bring real-world information (like prices, weather, or sports scores) onto blockchains in a secure and reliable way. This data is essential for smart contracts to function correctly.
- CCIP (Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol): Think of this as a bridge that allows different blockchain networks to communicate and exchange information or assets smoothly, which is crucial for the future of decentralized applications.
- Sovereign currencies onchain: Representing traditional money digitally on blockchains makes it easier to send, receive, and use money globally, with fewer intermediaries and lower costs.
- Price movements: Bitcoin and Ethereum continue to show steady growth, suggesting ongoing investor confidence. Smaller projects like Hedera and Stellar also demonstrate positive momentum, which can be promising for diverse crypto portfolios.
These advancements collectively point to a maturing crypto space that is increasingly integrating with real-world financial systems and improving user experience. The adoption of Chainlink’s technology by Stellar, for example, enables more sophisticated and reliable DeFi applications, potentially attracting more users and developers.
Builders’ corner
If you’re a developer or curious about building on these networks, here are some concrete things to explore:
- Stellar Protocol 24 Upgrade: Stellar recently released a guide to its latest protocol upgrade. This update includes improvements to transaction handling and network efficiency, making it easier and cheaper to build on Stellar.
- Chainlink’s DataLink: This new product aims to bring institutional market data onchain, which developers can use to build more accurate and trustworthy financial apps.
- Flare Network and XDC Network: Both are pushing interoperability and enterprise solutions. If you’re interested in smart contracts that connect to traditional finance or other blockchains, these networks offer promising tools and environments.
For those new to blockchain development, these projects often provide detailed documentation and active communities. Starting with simple smart contracts on Stellar or experimenting with Chainlink’s data oracles can be a great way to learn.
Quick prices
- Bitcoin (BTC): $110,357 (+1.57% in 24h)
- Ethereum (ETH): $3,879.97 (+1.69%)
- Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR): $0.201 (+4.82%)
- Stellar (XLM): $0.306 (+1.70%)
- Ripple (XRP): $2.51 (+0.45%)
- Flare Network (FLR): $0.016 (+0.26%)
- XDC Network (XDCE): $0.0597 (+0.76%)
Most prices are trending upward, reflecting positive sentiment in the market. Hedera’s strong gain stands out, possibly fueled by recent news and partnerships.
What to watch
Looking ahead, here are some key areas to keep an eye on:
- Stellar’s integration with Chainlink: Watch how the adoption of Chainlink’s data feeds and CCIP impacts the growth of DeFi apps on Stellar. This could lead to new use cases and increased network activity.
- Expansion of onchain sovereign currencies: Projects like Etherfuse are pioneering this space. If successful, they could revolutionize how money moves globally, making remittances and cross-border trade faster and cheaper.
- Market reaction to protocol upgrades: Stellar’s Protocol 24 and similar upgrades on other networks often improve user experience and scalability, which can attract more developers and users.
- Regulatory and macroeconomic factors: Recent articles discuss the impact of government shutdowns and global regulatory shifts on the crypto market. Staying informed about these external factors helps investors understand potential risks and opportunities.
- Adoption of Ripple and XDC Network solutions: Both focus on enterprise and cross-border payments, so partnerships or new product launches could influence their token prices and network usage.
Staying curious and informed will help you navigate this evolving landscape with confidence. Whether you’re investing, building, or simply exploring, the innovations happening now lay the groundwork for a more connected and efficient financial future.
TL;DR: Stellar is adopting Chainlink’s data services to power better DeFi apps, Hedera is gaining momentum, and projects like Etherfuse are pushing to bring traditional currencies onchain. Bitcoin and Ethereum continue steady growth, while protocol upgrades and interoperability solutions promise a more connected crypto ecosystem. Keep an eye on these developments to understand the future of blockchain finance.
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