What Shipped
This week in blockchain and crypto, several exciting developments took place across key projects like Stellar, Hedera, Ripple, Flare Network, and XDC Network. Among the highlights are new tools and updates aimed at making blockchain technology more accessible, scalable, and useful for everyday users and developers alike.
On Stellar, the team announced the launch of Meridian Pay, a scalable smart wallet designed to make managing digital assets easier and more efficient. This wallet supports smart contracts, enabling users to automate transactions and interact with decentralized finance (DeFi) applications directly from their wallets.
Stellar also shared insights on NFTs and smart contracts showcased at Meridian 2025, highlighting how artists and creators are using blockchain to mint and sell unique digital art seamlessly.
Meanwhile, Hedera Hashgraph rolled out support for the x402 payment standard, which is a new protocol designed to improve payment processing and interoperability between different financial systems. Hedera also announced updates to its Hiero Swift SDK, making it easier for developers to build apps on the Hedera network using the latest Swift 6 programming language.
In the broader ecosystem, Chainlink published articles explaining how blockchain technology enhances cross-border payments and how its oracle services support stablecoin issuers, helping these digital currencies maintain stability and trust.
On the investment front, Tether made headlines by investing in LayerZero Labs, a company focused on cross-chain technology that enables different blockchains to communicate and transfer assets efficiently. This move shows growing interest in expanding blockchain interoperability.
Why It Matters
These updates are significant because they demonstrate ongoing efforts to improve blockchain usability and integration with real-world finance. Let’s break down why these developments are important:
- Scalable Smart Wallets: Tools like Meridian Pay on Stellar make it easier for users to manage assets securely and interact with smart contracts without needing deep technical knowledge. This lowers barriers to entry for newcomers and encourages wider adoption.
- Smart Contracts and NFTs: By supporting creative uses like NFTs, blockchains are becoming platforms for digital art and intellectual property, opening new revenue streams for artists and creators worldwide.
- Payment Standards and Interoperability: Hedera’s x402 payment standard and investments in cross-chain tech like LayerZero Labs are critical for connecting disparate financial systems and blockchains, making payments faster, cheaper, and more reliable.
- Developer Tools: Updates to SDKs (Software Development Kits) like Hedera’s Hiero Swift SDK enable developers to build better applications more efficiently, which fuels innovation across the ecosystem.
- Stablecoins and Oracles: Chainlink’s oracle services help stablecoins maintain their value by providing reliable data feeds, which is crucial for users who rely on these digital currencies for everyday transactions or savings.
Overall, these advancements help move blockchain from a niche technology to a practical tool for finance, art, and global payments, making it more accessible and useful for everyone.
Builders’ Corner
If you’re a developer or enthusiast looking to get involved, here are some concrete ways to engage with these projects:
- Explore Meridian Pay: Try out the new smart wallet on Stellar and experiment with creating simple smart contracts. Stellar’s developer documentation is beginner-friendly and a great place to start.
- Mint Your Own NFTs: Check out the resources from Meridian 2025 to learn how artists are using smart contracts to create and sell NFTs. This is a great way to understand blockchain’s creative potential.
- Build on Hedera: Download the updated Hiero Swift SDK and start building decentralized applications (dApps) using Swift 6. Hedera’s developer community is active and supportive for newcomers.
- Learn About Cross-Chain Tech: Follow LayerZero Labs’ developments to understand how blockchains can communicate with each other. This knowledge is essential as interoperability becomes a key focus in blockchain development.
- Use Chainlink Oracles: If you’re interested in stablecoins or DeFi, explore Chainlink’s oracle services to see how external data is securely fed into smart contracts.
Quick Prices
As of February 10, 2026, here are some current prices and recent trends for popular cryptocurrencies (all prices in USD):
- Bitcoin (BTC): $69,838, down about 1.4% in the past 24 hours.
- Ethereum (ETH): $2,037.77, down roughly 4.6% in the past day.
- Ripple (XRP): $1.42, down 2.1% in 24 hours.
- Stellar (XLM): $0.159, down 1.6% in the last day.
- Hedera (HBAR): $0.091, down 1.8% in 24 hours.
- Flare Network (FLR): $0.0097, slightly down 0.22%.
- XDC Network (XDCE): $0.035, down 2.9% in the last day.
While prices have seen some minor declines recently, these fluctuations are normal in the crypto space. The underlying technology and project development remain strong and promising.
What to Watch
Looking ahead, here are some key areas and events to keep an eye on:
- U.S. Jobs Report: Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies often react to major economic reports like the U.S. jobs data coming up on Wednesday. This can influence market sentiment and price movements.
- Stellar’s Ecosystem Growth: Watch how Meridian Pay adoption evolves and whether more developers build smart contract applications on Stellar.
- Hedera’s Payment Standards: The rollout of the x402 payment standard could accelerate partnerships with financial institutions and boost real-world blockchain payments.
- Cross-Chain Innovations: Tether’s investment in LayerZero Labs signals growing focus on cross-chain solutions. Follow how this technology matures and impacts DeFi and stablecoin usage.
- Regulatory Developments: Stay informed about regulatory news, as policies can affect crypto market dynamics and institutional adoption.
For new investors and curious newcomers, this is an exciting time to learn about blockchain technology and watch how these projects build the future of finance, art, and global payments.
TL;DR: Stellar launched Meridian Pay, a smart wallet making blockchain easier to use; Hedera introduced a new payment standard and updated developer tools; cross-chain tech gains momentum with Tether’s investment in LayerZero Labs. Despite minor price dips, these developments show strong progress in making blockchain practical and accessible. Keep an eye on economic reports and ecosystem growth for upcoming opportunities.
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