Stellar, Chainlink, and Others Advance Blockchain Interoperability and Real-World Data Integration

What shipped

Several exciting developments have emerged in the blockchain space, particularly involving Ripple, Stellar, Hedera, Flare Network, and the XDC Network. Stellar recently announced it will join Chainlink Scale, adopting advanced tools like Data Feeds, Data Streams, and the Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) to power next-generation decentralized finance (DeFi) applications. These technologies help blockchains share data securely and efficiently, which is crucial for building complex financial apps.

Meanwhile, Etherfuse is working on bringing 100 sovereign currencies onchain, meaning they aim to represent real-world national currencies digitally on blockchain platforms. This can make cross-border payments and currency exchange faster and cheaper.

Stellar also released a Protocol 24 Upgrade Guide, helping developers understand and implement the latest improvements to their network. Chainlink, a leader in blockchain data services, published its Q3 2025 review and announced it won the Swift Hackathon 2025 Business Challenge, highlighting its growing influence in traditional finance integration.

Why it matters

These updates highlight an important trend: blockchain networks are increasingly focusing on interoperability and real-world data integration. Let’s break down why this is a big deal for newcomers and investors:

• Interoperability: Tools like Chainlink’s CCIP allow different blockchains to communicate and share information. This means your DeFi app on Stellar can use data from Ethereum or Bitcoin, expanding what’s possible.
• Real-world data feeds: DeFi apps need accurate, trustworthy information like currency prices or interest rates. Chainlink’s Data Feeds and Data Streams provide this data securely onchain, improving app reliability.
• Bringing fiat currencies onchain: Etherfuse’s goal of tokenizing 100 sovereign currencies can make it easier to use familiar money digitally, reducing friction in global payments.
• Network upgrades: Stellar’s Protocol 24 upgrade means faster, safer, and more efficient transactions, which benefits everyone using the network.
• Recognition and adoption: Chainlink winning the Swift Hackathon shows that traditional finance institutions are paying attention and adopting blockchain solutions.

For investors, these developments suggest growing utility and integration of blockchain networks with the broader financial ecosystem, which often leads to increased demand and value.

Builders’ corner

If you are a developer or curious about building on these networks, here are some practical insights:

• Stellar + Chainlink Scale: By integrating Chainlink’s tools, you can access reliable price data and cross-chain communication, enabling DeFi apps like lending platforms, stablecoins, or decentralized exchanges that are more secure and versatile.
• Protocol 24 upgrade: Review Stellar’s upgrade guide carefully to take advantage of new features such as improved transaction speed and new smart contract capabilities.
• Flare Network: This network supports smart contracts for assets like XRP and Ethereum tokens, allowing developers to build applications that combine the best of different blockchain ecosystems.
• Etherfuse’s currency onchain project: This opens new opportunities for developers to create apps that handle multiple national currencies digitally, useful for remittances, payroll, or global trade.
• Chainlink’s DataLink: Institutional market data is becoming accessible onchain, so builders can create apps that use high-quality financial information directly from trusted sources.

These tools and upgrades provide a strong foundation for innovative decentralized apps that can attract users and investors alike.

Quick prices

As of October 31, 2025, here’s a snapshot of some key cryptocurrency prices and their 24-hour percentage changes:

• Bitcoin (BTC): $109,743 (+2.7%)
• Ethereum (ETH): $3,846 (+10.3%)
• Ripple (XRP): $2.50 (+128.4%)
• Stellar (XLM): $0.30 (+79.1%)
• Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR): $0.20 (+151.2%)
• Flare Network (FLR): $0.016 (+19.4%)
• XDC Network (XDC): $0.0598 (+236.2%)

These strong gains reflect growing interest and optimism around these projects, especially those focused on interoperability and real-world use cases.

What to watch

Looking ahead, here are some key areas to keep an eye on:

• Stellar’s integration with Chainlink: Watch how this partnership drives new DeFi apps and whether it attracts more developers and users.
• Progress on Etherfuse’s onchain currencies: Successfully tokenizing multiple national currencies could be a game-changer for global finance.
• Chainlink’s expanding role: As Chainlink continues winning industry challenges and launching new data products, it could become even more essential for blockchain applications.
• Regulatory developments: Keep an eye on how governments respond to these innovations, especially with projects like XDC Network and Ripple that engage heavily with traditional finance.
• Network upgrades and adoption: Monitor how Protocol 24 and other updates impact user experience and transaction speeds.

Staying informed on these fronts can help you make better decisions whether you’re investing, building, or simply curious about blockchain’s future.

TL;DR: Major blockchain projects like Stellar, Ripple, Hedera, Flare, and XDC are advancing interoperability and real-world data use. Stellar’s partnership with Chainlink brings powerful data tools to DeFi, while Etherfuse aims to put 100 national currencies onchain. These upgrades and collaborations are driving strong price gains and positioning these networks as key players in the evolving crypto and finance landscape.