What Shipped
February 2026 has been an exciting month for blockchain enthusiasts and investors alike, with several important updates and product launches from some of the leading blockchain organizations. Notably, Stellar released “Meridian Pay,” a scalable smart wallet designed to make digital payments smoother and more accessible. This wallet aims to simplify how users interact with the Stellar network, offering faster transactions and easy management of digital assets.
Meanwhile, Ethereum saw the debut of “MegaETH” mainnet, a significant step forward in addressing the network’s ongoing scaling challenges. Scaling refers to a blockchain’s ability to handle more transactions quickly and efficiently—a key factor for mass adoption.
Hedera Hashgraph announced support for Swift 6 in its Hiero Swift SDK, which means developers using Apple’s programming language Swift can now build decentralized applications (dApps) more easily on Hedera’s fast and secure network. Hedera also highlighted its involvement at Davos 2026, focusing on advancing digital trust globally.
Ripple and Stellar continue to innovate around cross-border payments, with new insights into how blockchain technology can improve speed and reduce costs for international money transfers.
Why It Matters
These developments highlight the growing maturity of blockchain technology and its increasing integration into everyday financial services. For example, Stellar’s smart wallet “Meridian Pay” is designed to handle everyday transactions with ease, bringing blockchain benefits like transparency and speed to more users. This could help bridge the gap between traditional banking and digital currencies.
Ethereum’s scaling efforts with MegaETH are critical because Ethereum is the foundation for many decentralized finance (DeFi) projects and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Improving its capacity means better user experiences and lower fees, encouraging more people and businesses to participate.
Hedera’s updates show the importance of developer-friendly tools. By supporting Swift 6, Hedera makes it easier for app creators to build on its platform, potentially increasing the number and variety of blockchain applications available.
Additionally, Ripple and Stellar’s work on cross-border payments addresses a major real-world problem: sending money internationally can be slow and expensive. Blockchain offers a solution by enabling faster, cheaper, and more transparent transfers, which can benefit individuals and businesses worldwide.
Builders’ Corner
For developers and those interested in building on these platforms, there’s plenty to explore:
- Stellar’s Meridian Pay: Developers can build smart wallets or integrate payment features using Stellar’s tools, making it easier to create user-friendly financial apps.
- Hedera’s Hiero Swift SDK: If you code in Swift, this update simplifies connecting your apps to Hedera’s network, which is known for fast and secure transactions.
- Ethereum’s MegaETH: Offers improved infrastructure for building scalable dApps. This is great news for developers working on DeFi, gaming, or NFT projects who need faster transaction processing.
- Ripple and Stellar Cross-Border Solutions: Builders interested in payments can explore APIs and tools to create new financial products that make sending money internationally easier and more affordable.
Exploring these tools helps developers create innovative applications that bring blockchain benefits to everyday users, from faster payments to secure digital identity verification.
Quick Prices
Here’s a snapshot of some popular cryptocurrencies and their recent price changes (as of February 9, 2026, 13:01 ET):
- Bitcoin (BTC): $70,572 (down 0.44% in 24 hours) – The original and most well-known cryptocurrency remains strong despite a slight dip.
- Ethereum (ETH): $2,125.60 (up 1.67%) – Showing positive momentum, possibly fueled by new developments like MegaETH.
- Ripple (XRP): $1.45 (up 1.39%) – Benefiting from ongoing work in cross-border payments.
- Stellar (XLM): $0.16166 (up 0.34%) – Growing steadily alongside new wallet initiatives.
- Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR): $0.09248 (up 0.91%) – Gaining attention from developers and enterprises.
- Flare Network (FLR): $0.0097 (up 1.0%) – A smaller project showing positive daily growth.
- XDC Network (XDC): $0.0363 (up 1.18%) – Building momentum as it expands its ecosystem.
What to Watch
Looking ahead, here are some key areas to keep an eye on:
- Ethereum Scaling Debate: The success of MegaETH could influence how Ethereum evolves and how users experience dApps and transactions.
- Stellar’s Ecosystem Growth: Watch how Meridian Pay and other projects like stablecoins on Stellar (such as Brale) develop to improve digital payments.
- Hedera’s Developer Tools: New SDK updates and partnerships could accelerate adoption and more real-world use cases.
- Ripple and Cross-Border Payments: Regulatory developments and partnerships will be important to watch as Ripple aims to transform international money transfers.
- Market Sentiment and Mining Stocks: Recent analyst coverage suggests some bitcoin mining companies are good buys, while others are not, reflecting the evolving landscape of crypto investment.
Whether you’re a new investor or just curious about blockchain technology, these updates show a vibrant and growing ecosystem. The technology is becoming easier to use, more scalable, and increasingly integrated into the global financial system—all positive signs for the future.
TL;DR: Stellar launched a new smart wallet called Meridian Pay to simplify transactions, Ethereum debuted its MegaETH mainnet to improve scalability, and Hedera added Swift 6 support for developers. Ripple and Stellar continue advancing cross-border payments. Prices show steady growth in many coins. These developments make blockchain more accessible and ready for everyday use.
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