What Shipped
The blockchain space continues to evolve with exciting developments from several key projects this week. Stellar recently announced the launch of Meridian Pay, a new scalable smart wallet designed to make digital payments smoother and more accessible. This wallet aims to leverage Stellar’s fast and affordable network to bring smart contract-powered payments to everyday users.
On the NFT front, Stellar also highlighted its recent Meridian 2025 event, showcasing how art and smart contracts are merging to create new opportunities for creators and collectors alike.
Meanwhile, Hedera Hashgraph announced support for Swift 6 in their Hiero Swift SDK, making it easier for iOS developers to build apps on Hedera’s fast and secure public network. Hedera also shared a developer highlights report for January 2026, showcasing recent tools and partnerships, and detailed their presence at Davos 2026, where they emphasized advancing digital trust globally.
Ripple and Stellar, two leaders in cross-border payments, continue to push innovations in this area, with Chainlink publishing insightful articles on how blockchain improves cross-border payments and how Chainlink supports stablecoin issuers. Stablecoins remain a hot topic, with Stellar sharing a story about growing stablecoin issuance on their Brale platform.
On the market side, Ethereum recently dipped below $2,000, causing significant ripples in trading circles, while Bitcoin remains strong above $68,000. Notably, Galaxy Digital announced a $200 million share buyback, signaling confidence in the crypto market’s long-term potential.
Why It Matters
These updates highlight a few important trends shaping the blockchain ecosystem:
- Improved user experience: Tools like Meridian Pay aim to make blockchain payments as easy as traditional digital wallets, helping onboard more everyday users.
- Growing developer support: Hedera’s new SDK features and developer reports show that building on blockchain is becoming more accessible, encouraging innovation.
- Cross-border payments innovation: Ripple and Stellar’s ongoing work with stablecoins and blockchain-based payments could reduce costs and increase speed for international money transfers, benefiting businesses and individuals worldwide.
- Market resilience and interest: Despite some price volatility—like Ethereum’s recent drop—major players like Galaxy Digital are doubling down on crypto, signaling long-term optimism.
Overall, these developments reflect blockchain’s steady progress from niche technology to mainstream financial infrastructure.
Builders’ Corner
If you’re new to blockchain development or just curious about the technology, here are some key concepts and tools highlighted this week:
- Smart Wallets: These are digital wallets enhanced with smart contracts, which are self-executing contracts with the terms directly written into code. Meridian Pay is a great example, combining wallet functions with automated payment features.
- SDKs (Software Development Kits): SDKs like Hedera’s Hiero Swift SDK provide pre-built tools and libraries that make it easier for developers to build apps on blockchain networks without starting from scratch.
- Stablecoins: These are cryptocurrencies pegged to stable assets like the US dollar, designed to reduce price volatility. Stellar’s Brale platform is seeing increased stablecoin issuance, enabling more reliable digital payments.
- Cross-border Payments: Blockchain’s transparency and speed can cut down the time and fees traditionally involved in sending money internationally. Projects like Ripple and Stellar are leading the charge here.
For anyone interested in diving deeper, exploring SDK documentation, attending community events like Meridian, or experimenting with smart contracts on test networks can be great first steps.
Quick Prices
As of February 7, 2026:
- Bitcoin (BTC): $68,058 (up 3.5% in 24 hours)
- Ethereum (ETH): $2,012 (up 4.9% in 24 hours)
- Ripple (XRP): $1.41 (up 6.2% in 24 hours)
- Stellar (XLM): $0.158 (up 2.7% in 24 hours)
- Hedera (HBAR): $0.087 (up 4.8% in 24 hours)
- Flare Networks (FLR): $0.0096 (up 3.4% in 24 hours)
- XDC Network (XDC): $0.0376 (up 13% in 24 hours)
What to Watch
Looking ahead, keep an eye on these areas:
- Adoption of smart wallets: Watch how Meridian Pay and similar wallets gain traction, as easier payment tools could drive more mainstream blockchain use.
- Stablecoin growth: Stablecoins are becoming increasingly important for global commerce. Platforms like Stellar’s Brale could play a key role in expanding their use.
- Blockchain in international finance: Ripple, Stellar, and partners like Chainlink are working to improve cross-border payments. Any new partnerships or regulatory developments here could be significant.
- Ethereum’s price recovery: Ethereum’s recent dip below $2,000 has raised eyebrows. Its ability to regain momentum will be important for the broader crypto market.
- Developer ecosystem expansion: Updates like Hedera’s Swift SDK support show how blockchain is becoming more developer-friendly. More tools and community events could spur innovation.
TL;DR: This week brought exciting progress in blockchain usability and development. Stellar launched a new smart wallet to simplify payments, Hedera improved its developer tools, and Ripple and Stellar continue innovating cross-border payments with stablecoins. Prices remain strong overall, with Bitcoin above $68K and Ethereum near $2,000 despite recent dips. These trends show blockchain’s steady move toward mainstream adoption, making it a promising space for newcomers and investors alike.
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