What Shipped
As of February 23, 2026, the cryptocurrency market shows some modest declines, with Bitcoin priced at $66,378, down about 2.4% over the past 24 hours. Ethereum also dipped nearly 3% to $1,916.78. Other notable projects like Ripple, Stellar, Hedera Hashgraph, Flare Network, and XDC Network experienced similar slight decreases ranging roughly from 1% to 5.4% for XDC.
In recent weeks, several important updates and developments have been announced by these networks and the broader blockchain ecosystem:
- Stellar published insightful articles highlighting the risks of Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus, shared their 2025 year-end report focusing on scaling solutions, and introduced “IRL × Stellar,” a project aiming to bring culture onto the blockchain seamlessly.
- Hedera Hashgraph announced a migration update for its AccountBalanceQuery feature to improve developer experience, welcomed FedEx to its governing council to enhance digital supply chain solutions, and discussed integrating the x402 payment standard to streamline transactions.
- Chainlink shared educational content on how blockchain improves cross-border payments and how its technology supports stablecoin issuers, highlighting growing adoption.
- On the market side, Bitdeer, a major Bitcoin mining company, sold its entire Bitcoin treasury to fund a pivot into artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, signaling a shift in the mining industry’s focus.
Why It Matters
These updates reflect a maturing blockchain ecosystem moving beyond simple price speculation toward real-world applications and infrastructure improvements. Let’s break down some key points for newcomers:
- Proof-of-Stake Risks: PoS is a popular consensus method where coin holders “stake” tokens to validate transactions, consuming less energy than Bitcoin’s Proof-of-Work. However, Stellar’s recent article warns of hidden risks, like potential centralization or security trade-offs. Understanding these helps investors and developers make informed decisions.
- Enterprise Involvement: FedEx joining Hedera’s council shows major companies recognize blockchain’s potential to improve global supply chains—making shipping transparent, efficient, and fraud-resistant.
- Payments Standardization: Hedera’s support for the x402 payment standard aims to simplify how digital payments are processed across platforms, which could lead to smoother, faster transactions.
- AI and Blockchain: Bitdeer’s move from Bitcoin mining to AI data centers highlights the dynamic nature of blockchain-related industries, where technology convergence is creating new opportunities.
Builders’ Corner
If you’re interested in the technology behind these projects or considering contributing, here are some concrete examples and opportunities:
- Explore Stellar’s Ecosystem: Their blog posts provide developer resources and insights on scaling solutions and cultural projects that utilize blockchain for social impact.
- Develop on Hedera: The recent migration from AccountBalanceQuery means improved APIs for querying account data—check Hedera’s developer portal for updated guides and tools.
- Experiment with Chainlink Oracles: These connect blockchains to external data, essential for decentralized finance (DeFi) and stablecoins. Chainlink’s resources can help you build reliable smart contracts.
- Watch Industry Trends: Understanding how companies like FedEx and Bitdeer are leveraging blockchain and AI can inspire innovative use cases or partnerships.
Quick Prices
- Bitcoin (BTC): $66,378 (-2.39%)
- Ethereum (ETH): $1,916.78 (-2.97%)
- Ripple (XRP): $1.39 (-2.03%)
- Stellar (XLM): $0.155 (-0.97%)
- Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR): $0.097 (-1.21%)
- Flare Network (FLR): $0.0093 (-1.37%)
- XDC Network (XDC): $0.0335 (-5.40%)
What to Watch
Looking ahead, here are some developments to keep an eye on:
- Proof-of-Stake Developments: Watch how projects address the risks Stellar highlighted. Improvements here could make staking safer and more attractive to everyday investors.
- Enterprise Blockchain Adoption: FedEx’s role in Hedera suggests more supply chain giants may join, potentially driving real-world blockchain usage and increasing token demand.
- Cross-Border Payments: With Chainlink and Hedera pushing new standards, expect innovations that make sending money internationally cheaper and faster.
- AI and Crypto Mining: The shift from mining to AI data centers could reshape mining economics and open new investment avenues.
- Regulatory Landscape: Keep an eye on how countries like the UK evolve digital asset regulations, which will impact market confidence and adoption.
TL;DR: The crypto market is experiencing small price dips, but major projects like Stellar and Hedera are advancing with new tools, partnerships, and insights. Enterprise interest, especially from FedEx, signals growing blockchain adoption in supply chains. Meanwhile, industry shifts like mining companies moving into AI show exciting new directions. For newcomers, this is a great time to learn about staking risks, explore developer resources, and watch how blockchain improves payments and global trade.
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