What Shipped
February 2026 has brought several important updates and developments in the blockchain space, especially around some of the networks gaining attention like Ripple, Stellar, Hedera Hashgraph, Flare Network, and XDC Network. While the overall cryptocurrency market has seen a slight dip in prices over the last 24 hours, with Bitcoin down about 3.9% at $64,739 and Ethereum dropping nearly 4% to $1,862, the underlying technology and ecosystem improvements continue to advance steadily.
Notably, Stellar has published insightful blog posts discussing the risks of Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus mechanisms, which are important because PoS is a popular method blockchains use to secure and validate transactions. They’ve also shared a detailed end-of-year 2025 report highlighting their progress in scaling their network and building new applications. Additionally, Stellar’s developers have introduced advanced concepts around privacy and security for decentralized finance, comparing technologies like Multi-Party Computation (MPC), Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE), and Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) to build secure “dark pools” — private trading platforms that help large investors trade without revealing their moves to the market.
Hedera Hashgraph is also making waves with practical improvements and partnerships. They recently announced that FedEx has joined the Hedera Governing Council, signaling strong interest from major corporations in using Hedera’s fast and secure network to improve digital supply chains. Hedera has also been updating developers on migrating from older query methods to newer, more efficient ones, and working on the x402 payment standard, which aims to streamline digital payments globally.
Meanwhile, Flare Network and XDC Network, both known for their focus on smart contract compatibility and enterprise blockchain solutions, continue to hold steady in price despite the market’s short-term dip. These platforms are building infrastructure that supports interoperability—meaning they help different blockchains communicate with each other, which is crucial for the future of decentralized finance and cross-chain applications.
Why It Matters
Understanding these developments helps investors and newcomers grasp where blockchain technology is headed beyond just price movements. For example, Stellar’s focus on the “hidden risks of Proof-of-Stake” addresses concerns about security and fairness in blockchain networks. PoS is often praised for its energy efficiency compared to Bitcoin’s energy-heavy Proof-of-Work, but it has trade-offs, including potential centralization risks. By openly discussing these issues, Stellar is showing leadership in building more robust and transparent systems.
Hedera’s partnership with FedEx highlights how blockchain is becoming a critical tool in real-world industries. Supply chains, which track goods from manufacturing to delivery, benefit greatly from blockchain’s transparency and immutability (meaning once data is recorded, it cannot be changed). This makes it easier to verify product origins, reduce fraud, and improve logistics efficiency.
Stellar’s exploration of privacy-enhancing technologies like MPC and FHE is also very promising. These tools allow multiple parties to collaborate on data or transactions without exposing sensitive information. This can unlock new financial products that protect user privacy while complying with regulations, a key balance for the future of decentralized finance.
Builders’ Corner
- Stellar Developers: If you’re working on decentralized finance (DeFi) apps, check out Stellar’s recent blog on building “dark pools” using MPC and FHE. These technologies enable private trading and could be a game-changer for institutional investors.
- Hedera Builders: Take note of the migration guide from AccountBalanceQuery to newer APIs. Updating your applications will improve performance and future compatibility.
- Interoperability Focus: Flare Network and XDC Network continue to develop bridges that connect different blockchains. If your project needs to operate across multiple chains, these platforms are worth exploring.
- Enterprise Use Cases: With FedEx joining Hedera’s council, consider how blockchain can solve supply chain challenges in your industry. Hedera offers low fees and fast finality, which are essential for real-time tracking.
Quick Prices
Here’s a snapshot of some major digital assets as of February 23, 2026:
- Bitcoin (BTC): $64,739 (down 3.9% in 24h)
- Ethereum (ETH): $1,862 (down 4.0% in 24h)
- Ripple (XRP): $1.36 (down 2.1% in 24h)
- Stellar (XLM): $0.15 (down 2.4% in 24h)
- Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR): $0.094 (down 2.9% in 24h)
- Flare Networks (FLR): $0.0091 (down 1.9% in 24h)
- XDC Network (XDCE): $0.033 (down 4.4% in 24h)
What to Watch
Looking ahead, keep an eye on these key areas:
- Proof-of-Stake Risks and Innovations: As more blockchains adopt PoS, understanding its challenges and improvements will be crucial for investors and builders alike.
- Blockchain in Supply Chains: Watch how partnerships like Hedera and FedEx evolve, as they could set standards for global logistics and digital asset tracking.
- Privacy Technologies: Technologies like MPC and FHE are still emerging but have the potential to revolutionize how financial data is protected on public blockchains.
- Market Sentiment: Despite short-term price drops, the long-term trend points toward continued adoption and innovation in blockchain technology.
- Infrastructure Upgrades: Projects like Solana building high-speed infrastructure indicate that scalability and speed remain top priorities in blockchain development.
TL;DR: While cryptocurrency prices have dipped slightly, major blockchain projects like Stellar and Hedera continue to advance with important updates in security, privacy, and real-world applications. Stellar warns about risks in popular Proof-of-Stake systems, Hedera gains a powerful partner in FedEx, and developers are building new tools for private trading and cross-chain communication. These developments show that blockchain technology is maturing fast and becoming more integrated with everyday business and finance.
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