Stellar boosts wallet speed 63%, Hedera partners with Axelar; Ethereum plans scaling upgrades

What shipped

As of February 27, 2026, the cryptocurrency market shows some interesting movements among major coins and blockchain projects. Bitcoin, the world’s most well-known cryptocurrency, is priced at about $65,695, experiencing a slight dip of around 1.7% in the last 24 hours. Ethereum, another major player famous for smart contracts, is trading near $1,931, down nearly 3%. Among the focus projects—Ripple, Stellar, Hedera, Flare Network, and XDC Network—most have seen small declines, except Hedera Hashgraph, which has risen almost 1% to $0.10.

Several important updates and news items have been released recently by these projects:

• Stellar: The team behind the Freighter wallet announced a significant improvement in load times, speeding it up by 63%. This means users can access their assets and make transactions faster and more smoothly.
• Hedera Hashgraph: Hedera shared upcoming changes to their Hiero JSON-RPC Relay configuration, aligning better with Ethereum-style networks. They also announced a partnership with Axelar, a cross-chain communication platform, to expand access to decentralized finance (DeFi) on Hedera.
• Ripple & Stellar: Both continue to focus on improving cross-border payments, aiming to make international money transfers faster, cheaper, and more secure.

Why it matters

These developments highlight ongoing efforts to improve blockchain technology usability and interoperability. For newcomers, here’s why these updates are important:

• Faster Wallets: Stellar’s Freighter wallet getting faster means less waiting and more convenience. Wallets are how users interact with cryptocurrencies, so improvements here directly enhance user experience.
• Better Cross-Chain Access: Hedera’s partnership with Axelar opens the door for users to move assets and data between different blockchains more easily. This is key for building a connected ecosystem where different blockchains can work together.
• Improved Cross-Border Payments: Ripple and Stellar aim to simplify sending money internationally. Their technologies can reduce costs and delays, which is especially helpful for people sending remittances or businesses operating globally.

Additionally, Ethereum’s price dip and Vitalik Buterin’s recent announcement of a bold new plan to fix Ethereum’s scaling challenges are critical for investors and users. Ethereum is the foundation for many decentralized applications, so improvements here can impact the whole ecosystem.

Builders’ corner

For developers and tech enthusiasts, these updates signal exciting opportunities:

• Stellar’s Freighter Wallet: The 63% faster load times result from technical optimizations that reduce the time it takes to connect to the Stellar network and retrieve account data. Faster wallets encourage more users to adopt blockchain technology by making it feel more responsive and reliable.
• Hedera’s JSON-RPC Relay Update: JSON-RPC is a protocol that allows software to communicate with blockchains. By updating the Hiero relay to be more Ethereum-compatible, Hedera makes it easier for developers familiar with Ethereum tools to build on or interact with Hedera.
• Axelar Integration: Axelar acts like a bridge between different blockchains. Its connection with Hedera means developers can create applications that leverage multiple blockchains’ strengths, such as speed, security, or specific features.

For those interested in blockchain development, these improvements lower technical barriers and open new possibilities for building innovative applications.

Quick prices

What to watch

Looking ahead, here are some key developments and trends to keep an eye on:

• Ethereum Scaling Solutions: Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum’s co-founder, recently revealed plans to tackle Ethereum’s well-known scaling issues. Scaling means making the network faster and cheaper to use as more people join. Successful upgrades could boost Ethereum’s value and usability.
• Institutional Adoption: Barclays, a major global bank, is reportedly exploring blockchain technology for a new settlement engine. If large financial institutions adopt blockchain for payments, it could significantly increase mainstream acceptance.
• Cross-Border Payment Innovations: Projects like Ripple and Stellar continue to push for easier and more affordable international money transfers. Watch for partnerships, new products, or regulatory changes that could accelerate adoption.
• Blockchain Interoperability: As seen with Hedera and Axelar, connecting different blockchains is a growing trend. This will help create a more unified ecosystem where users and developers can benefit from multiple networks’ strengths.

For new investors and blockchain enthusiasts, now is a great time to learn more about these projects and follow their progress. Understanding how these technologies evolve can help you make informed decisions and spot opportunities early.

TL;DR: Bitcoin and Ethereum prices dipped slightly amid broader market uncertainty, while Hedera Hashgraph showed gains thanks to new partnerships and network upgrades. Stellar improved its wallet speed by 63%, enhancing user experience. Ethereum’s scaling plans and institutional interest in blockchain signal promising growth ahead. Keep an eye on cross-chain solutions and payment innovations as blockchain technology continues to mature and become more accessible.