What Shipped
Welcome to your mid-February 2026 blockchain update! Let’s dive into some exciting developments from key projects like Ripple, Stellar, Hedera, Flare Network, and XDC Network. These projects continue to push the boundaries of blockchain technology, making it more accessible and practical for real-world use.
Stellar recently published its End of Year 2025 Report, highlighting how the network has been executing at scale. This means they’ve successfully handled more transactions and onboarded more partners, making their blockchain more reliable and efficient. Alongside that, Stellar launched “IRL × Stellar,” a project focused on bringing culture onchain invisibly. In simpler terms, this initiative aims to embed cultural elements into blockchain transactions without disrupting the user experience.
For developers, Stellar introduced a new feature for verifying RISC Zero execution within their smart contracts. RISC Zero is a technology that allows programs to prove they have run correctly without revealing all the details, enhancing privacy and trust.
Hedera Hashgraph also made waves this week. They published a helpful guide about migrating from the old AccountBalanceQuery system to a new one, which will make balance checks faster and easier for developers and users alike. Big news came as FedEx joined the Hedera Council. This means one of the world’s largest logistics companies is supporting Hedera’s vision for digital global supply chains, which could revolutionize how shipments are tracked and verified worldwide. Additionally, Hedera is advancing the x402 payment standard, aiming to improve how payments are processed on their network.
Why It Matters
These updates are more than just technical jargon—they show how blockchain technology is becoming more practical and integrated into everyday life.
- Scalability and reliability: Stellar’s report confirms that blockchain can handle large volumes of transactions smoothly, an important step for mainstream adoption.
- Privacy and trust: Technologies like RISC Zero help protect user data while verifying transactions, which builds confidence in decentralized systems.
- Real-world partnerships: FedEx joining Hedera’s council signals growing trust from big corporations, which can drive blockchain usage in industries like logistics and supply chain management.
- Improved payment standards: The x402 standard on Hedera could make digital payments faster, cheaper, and more secure.
- Culture onchain: Stellar’s “IRL × Stellar” project shows how blockchain can preserve and share cultural experiences in new, innovative ways.
Builders’ Corner
If you’re a developer or just curious about how these networks work, here are some concrete examples and explanations:
- RISC Zero Verification: Imagine you run a smart contract that calculates a loan interest rate. With RISC Zero, you can prove to others that the calculation was done correctly without showing your entire code or data. This helps maintain privacy while ensuring honesty.
- AccountBalanceQuery Migration: On Hedera, checking an account’s balance used to require a specific query type. The new migration guide helps developers switch to an updated system that’s faster and easier to use, improving app performance.
- FedEx on Hedera Council: FedEx’s involvement means they will help guide Hedera’s development, ensuring the platform meets the needs of global logistics. This could lead to blockchain-based tracking systems that reduce fraud and errors.
- Stellar’s Culture Onchain: By embedding cultural elements invisibly, Stellar’s new project allows artists, musicians, or communities to connect their work to blockchain transactions, creating new ways to share and preserve culture.
Quick Prices (as of February 18, 2026, 1:01 PM ET)
- Bitcoin (BTC): $67,156, slightly down by 0.06% in the last 24 hours.
- Ethereum (ETH): $1,974.24, up by 0.5% in the last 24 hours.
- Flare Networks (FLR): $0.00963, down by 0.23%.
- Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR): $0.1006, up by 0.11%.
- Ripple (XRP): $1.46, down by 0.57%.
- Stellar (XLM): $0.164, down by 0.70%.
- XDC Network (XDC): $0.0366, down by 0.87%.
While some prices have dipped slightly, the overall market remains strong, and the ongoing technological progress suggests a bright future ahead.
What to Watch
Looking ahead, keep an eye on these key areas:
- Stellar’s ecosystem growth: Watch how the “IRL × Stellar” project evolves and what new cultural integrations might emerge on the blockchain.
- Hedera’s corporate partnerships: See how FedEx and other council members influence Hedera’s roadmap, especially in supply chain and payment solutions.
- Ethereum staking updates: Ethereum recently hit a milestone with 50% of its supply staked, which is great for network security, but some users are debating supply data accuracy. This could affect investor sentiment.
- Chainlink innovations: Chainlink continues to support stablecoin issuers and improve cross-border payments, helping to make cryptocurrencies more usable in daily life.
- Platform migrations: Notice how projects like Zora moving to Solana and Coinbase’s Base shifting away from Optimism’s tech stack will impact ecosystem dynamics and developer choices.
Staying informed about these developments will help you understand how blockchain technology is shaping the future.
TL;DR: Stellar and Hedera are making strong progress with new projects, partnerships, and technical improvements that enhance scalability, privacy, and real-world use. Prices are mostly stable, with Ethereum showing slight gains. Watch for growing corporate support and ecosystem innovations that promise exciting opportunities ahead.
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