Stellar debuts Meridian Pay smart wallet; Hedera adds Swift 6 support; Ripple, XDC advance payments

What Shipped

February 2026 has brought exciting developments across several blockchain networks, especially among Ripple, Stellar, Hedera, Flare Network, and the XDC Network. Here are some highlights:

• Stellar: The team launched Meridian Pay, a scalable smart wallet designed to make digital payments smoother and more accessible. Additionally, Stellar showcased creative uses of smart contracts with NFTs at the Meridian 2025 event, highlighting how art and blockchain can merge in new ways. They also reported a breakthrough in stablecoin issuance with the $100 million to $1 stablecoin issuance on Brale, demonstrating the network’s growing role in digital finance.
• Hedera Hashgraph: Hedera announced support for Swift 6 in their Hiero Swift SDK, making it easier for developers to build apps using the latest Apple programming tools. Their monthly developer highlights for January 2026 shared progress updates and innovations, while their presence at the Davos 2026 conference emphasized Hedera’s commitment to advancing digital trust worldwide.
• Ripple and XDC Network: While not spotlighted with specific new products this week, Ripple and XDC continue to be influential players in cross-border payments and enterprise blockchain solutions.
• Cross-Industry Insights: Chainlink published insightful articles on how blockchain improves cross-border payments and supports stablecoin issuers, which ties into the broader ecosystem’s push for more efficient and transparent financial services.

Why It Matters

For newcomers and investors, these updates highlight how blockchain technology is evolving beyond just cryptocurrencies to become an integral part of our financial and digital lives.

• Smart Wallets Like Meridian Pay: These wallets simplify the way we manage digital assets and make payments. Instead of just holding cryptocurrencies, users can now interact with smart contracts directly from their wallets, enabling automatic transactions and programmable money.
• NFTs and Art on Stellar: Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) represent unique digital items—like artwork or collectibles. Stellar’s focus on NFTs shows how blockchain can empower creators and collectors by providing provable ownership and new ways to monetize digital art.
• Stablecoin Growth: Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies pegged to stable assets like the US dollar, offering the benefits of digital money without the extreme price swings. Stellar’s progress in this area points to a future where stablecoins could become mainstream for everyday payments and business transactions.
• Developer Tools and Accessibility: Hedera’s support for Swift 6 means more developers can build apps easily, which drives innovation and adoption. Developer-friendly tools are essential for expanding blockchain’s reach into mainstream applications.

Builders’ Corner

If you’re curious about building on these platforms, here’s what’s new and useful:

• Meridian Pay on Stellar: This smart wallet is designed to handle complex transactions while remaining user-friendly. Developers interested in financial apps can explore Stellar’s ecosystem to create scalable and cost-effective payment solutions.
• Hedera’s Hiero Swift SDK: For iOS developers, this SDK update supports the latest Swift 6 language features, making it easier to integrate Hedera’s fast and secure network into mobile apps.
• Chainlink’s Cross-Border Payment Tools: Builders can leverage Chainlink’s decentralized oracle services to bring reliable real-world data into blockchain apps, improving payment accuracy and compliance.

Whether you’re a developer or just an enthusiast, these tools open up exciting possibilities for creating innovative blockchain applications.

Quick Prices

Here’s a snapshot of the current prices and recent changes (as of February 9, 2026):

• Bitcoin (BTC): $70,394, up slightly by 0.19% in the last 24 hours.
• Ethereum (ETH): $2,115.22, growing by 2.27% recently.
• Flare Networks (FLR): $0.0097, up 1.44%.
• Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR): $0.0927, with a 2.22% increase.
• Ripple (XRP): $1.45, rising 1.60%.
• Stellar (XLM): $0.1606, showing a slight dip of -0.14%.
• XDC Network (XDC): $0.0359, down by 1.7%.

Overall, the market shows positive momentum with most assets gaining value, reflecting growing confidence and adoption.

What to Watch

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

• Ripple’s Role in Cross-Border Payments: Ripple continues to push for faster, cheaper international money transfers. Watch for new partnerships or regulatory approvals that could boost adoption.
• Stellar’s Expansion of Smart Contracts: With Meridian Pay and NFT projects gaining traction, Stellar’s network might see increased usage and developer interest.
• Hedera’s Focus on Digital Trust: After their Davos 2026 presence, Hedera aims to strengthen trust and security in digital transactions, which could lead to more enterprise collaborations.
• Chainlink’s Stablecoin Innovations: As stablecoins grow in importance, Chainlink’s technology will be crucial in ensuring their reliability and integration with real-world data.
• Market Trends: Keep an eye on Bitcoin’s price, which recently bounced back to over $70,000, and analysts like Bernstein who suggest it could reach $150,000. This optimism could encourage more investment and development in the space.

TL;DR: Stellar launched Meridian Pay, a smart wallet improving digital payments, and showcased NFTs at Meridian 2025. Hedera upgraded developer tools with Swift 6 support and highlighted efforts to boost digital trust. Ripple, Stellar, and XDC continue to innovate in cross-border payments and stablecoins. Most cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, are seeing positive price movements. Keep an eye on these networks and Chainlink’s role in stablecoin growth as the blockchain ecosystem expands in 2026.