What shipped
In the world of blockchain, the past week has seen some exciting developments, especially among projects like Ripple, Stellar, Hedera Hashgraph, Flare Network, and XDC Network. These organizations continue to push the boundaries of what blockchain technology can do, focusing on improving payments, privacy, and real-world use cases.
Stellar, known for its fast and affordable cross-border payments, recently announced several updates. One standout is their collaboration with IRL, a project bringing culture onto the blockchain “invisibly.” This means they are embedding cultural elements into transactions or smart contracts without making them obvious, opening new ways to share and preserve art, music, or traditions on the blockchain.
Another technical update from Stellar is the integration of RISC Zero verification within their smart contracts. Simply put, this adds a layer of security and trust by allowing smart contracts to prove their computations are correct without revealing all the details. This innovation helps keep transactions both private and efficient.
Hedera Hashgraph, a fast and energy-efficient distributed ledger technology, is making waves by welcoming FedEx to its governing council. This partnership aims to explore how blockchain can revolutionize global supply chains, making deliveries more transparent and reliable. Hedera is also updating developers on migrating from older query methods to newer ones, ensuring smoother and more secure applications.
Meanwhile, Ripple and Stellar continue to focus on compliance-friendly privacy solutions. This means they are creating ways for blockchain transactions to be open and transparent when needed, but private and secure when required by regulations. These efforts are critical for blockchain adoption in traditional financial systems.
Why it matters
For newcomers and seasoned investors alike, these updates highlight how blockchain technology is moving beyond just digital money. It’s becoming a tool for real-world problems like speeding up international payments, protecting user privacy, and improving supply chain transparency.
- Bringing culture onchain: Integrating cultural data invisibly on Stellar can help preserve heritage and create new digital experiences.
- Advanced privacy: Compliance-friendly privacy means blockchains can meet regulatory requirements without sacrificing user security.
- Supply chain innovation: FedEx joining Hedera’s council shows major companies trust blockchain to streamline complex logistics.
- Smart contract security: Using verifiers like RISC Zero boosts confidence in blockchain apps by proving correctness without exposing sensitive data.
- Developer support: Clear migration guides from Hedera help builders keep their apps up-to-date and secure.
These advancements are important because they make blockchain technology more practical and trustworthy for everyday use, encouraging wider adoption and investment.
Builders’ corner
If you’re curious about how these technologies work or want to get involved, here are some simple explanations and tips:
- Smart contracts: Think of these as computer programs running on the blockchain that automatically execute agreements. Stellar’s integration of RISC Zero means these programs can prove they’ve done their work correctly without exposing all their data.
- Privacy on blockchain: While blockchains are often seen as “open books,” new methods let users keep sensitive details hidden while still following laws. This balance is crucial for banks and businesses.
- Governance councils: Groups like Hedera’s council are made up of big companies that help guide how the network grows. The fact that FedEx joined shows confidence in this tech’s future.
- Migrating APIs: Developers should pay attention to Hedera’s migration guides to update their applications smoothly, avoiding disruptions.
- Culture onchain: Projects like IRL on Stellar show how blockchain can be more than money—it can be a new platform for creativity and heritage.
For developers, keeping up with these updates means learning new tools and standards that make blockchain apps more reliable and user-friendly.
Quick prices
As of February 17, 2026, here’s a quick look at some major cryptocurrency prices and their 24-hour changes:
- Bitcoin (BTC): $68,085, down about 1.24%
- Ethereum (ETH): $1,975.37, down about 0.44%
- Ripple (XRP): $1.46, down about 2.86%
- Stellar (XLM): $0.166, down about 2.72%
- Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR): $0.09977, down about 1.55%
- Flare Network (FLR): $0.00962, down about 2.26%
- XDC Network (XDCE): $0.03684, roughly unchanged
While prices have dipped slightly across the board, this is a normal part of market cycles. The technology and partnerships driving these projects remain strong and promising.
What to watch
Looking ahead, here are some key things to keep an eye on:
- Stellar’s privacy and cultural initiatives: How projects like IRL grow and whether more artists or communities join in using blockchain to preserve culture.
- Hedera’s supply chain partnerships: The impact of FedEx’s involvement and whether other global companies follow suit.
- Regulatory developments: How compliance-friendly privacy solutions from Ripple and Stellar influence government acceptance of blockchain.
- Bitcoin adoption in retail: Stories like the burger chain Steak ’n Shake reporting increased sales thanks to Bitcoin payments may signal growing mainstream use.
- UK crypto regulations: Ongoing debates about how quickly the UK can adapt rules to support its ambitions as a global crypto hub.
These factors will shape how blockchain technology integrates into everyday life and the global economy.
TL;DR: This week’s blockchain updates highlight exciting advances in privacy, cultural preservation, and real-world partnerships. Stellar’s work with IRL and RISC Zero improves smart contract privacy and creativity, while Hedera’s new partnership with FedEx points to blockchain’s growing role in supply chains. Prices dipped slightly but the technology and adoption stories remain strong. For newcomers, these developments show blockchain is maturing beyond just digital money into a powerful tool for business and culture.
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