What Shipped
Several exciting updates have emerged from the blockchain world this week, especially from projects like Stellar, Hedera, Ripple, and Flare Network. On Stellar, developers have been busy building Meridian Pay, a new smart wallet designed to be scalable and user-friendly. This wallet aims to help users manage their digital assets more easily on the Stellar network, which is known for fast and low-cost transactions.
In addition to that, Stellar’s ecosystem is also making strides in the area of NFTs (non-fungible tokens) with the introduction of “Art ❤️ Smart Contracts” at the Meridian 2025 event. NFTs are unique digital items, often art or collectibles, that are verified using blockchain technology.
Meanwhile, Hedera Hashgraph has announced support for Swift 6 in its Hiero Swift SDK (software development kit). This update is important for developers building apps on the Hedera network because it allows them to use the latest programming tools to create faster and more efficient applications. Hedera also shared highlights from its developer community in January 2026 and discussed its role in advancing digital trust at the prestigious Davos 2026 conference.
Additional useful insights have come from Chainlink, a blockchain oracle network, which published articles explaining how blockchain technology improves cross-border payments and how Chainlink supports stablecoin issuers — stablecoins being cryptocurrencies designed to maintain a stable value relative to a currency like the US dollar.
Why It Matters
These updates reflect the ongoing growth and maturation of blockchain technology, especially in areas that directly impact everyday users and developers. For example, wallets like Meridian Pay simplify how people can store and use cryptocurrencies, making digital money more accessible to everyone. This is important because user-friendly wallets can help bring more people into the crypto ecosystem.
Stellar’s focus on NFTs shows how blockchains are expanding beyond simple payments to support new types of digital assets and experiences. NFTs can empower artists and creators by providing new ways to sell and prove ownership of digital art.
Hedera’s improvements for developers mean that the network can attract more builders, which in turn leads to more innovative applications. This is crucial because the value of blockchain networks often depends on the quality and number of apps built on top of them.
Chainlink’s work on stablecoins and cross-border payments highlights blockchain’s potential to make financial systems more efficient and inclusive. Cross-border payments are typically slow and expensive, so blockchain solutions can help reduce costs and speed up transactions worldwide.
Builders’ Corner
- Building Meridian Pay: This new smart wallet on Stellar is designed for scalability, meaning it can handle increasing numbers of users and transactions without slowing down. It’s also built with security and ease of use in mind, which is great for newcomers.
- Smart Contracts & NFTs at Meridian 2025: Developers are leveraging Stellar’s smart contracts to create unique digital art and collectibles, opening doors for new creative projects on the blockchain.
- Hedera’s Swift 6 SDK Support: By supporting the latest Swift programming language version, Hedera enables iOS developers to build better apps quickly, helping grow its ecosystem.
- Chainlink’s Stablecoin Tools: Chainlink helps stablecoin issuers by providing reliable data feeds that keep stablecoins properly pegged to real-world currencies, enhancing trust and stability.
For developers interested in exploring these updates, visiting the official blogs of Stellar and Hedera is a great way to find documentation, tutorials, and community support.
Quick Prices (As of February 7, 2026)
- Bitcoin (BTC): $69,154 (down 2.29% in the past 24 hours)
- Ethereum (ETH): $2,060.92 (up 0.23%)
- Flare Networks (FLR): $0.0095 (down 6.75%)
- Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR): $0.0890 (down 5.92%)
- Ripple (XRP): $1.42 (down 4.82%)
- Stellar (XLM): $0.1616 (down 4.07%)
- XDC Network (XDC): $0.0374 (down 2.48%)
While many altcoins have seen price declines recently, Ethereum has held steady with a small gain. Market fluctuations are common in cryptocurrency, and these dips can sometimes present buying opportunities for long-term investors.
What to Watch
- Continued Development of Smart Wallets: Keep an eye on how Meridian Pay evolves and whether it gains traction among users. User-friendly wallets are key to broader adoption.
- Growth of NFTs on Stellar: Watch for new NFT projects and partnerships that could increase demand for Stellar’s network and tokens.
- Hedera’s Developer Ecosystem: Updates like Swift 6 support may attract more developers, which can lead to innovative applications and network growth.
- Stablecoin Innovations: Follow Chainlink and other projects working to improve stablecoin infrastructure, as stablecoins play an important role in bridging traditional finance and crypto.
- Market Volatility: Bitcoin’s recent price drop is notable but seen by some experts as a normal market correction rather than a crisis. Staying informed and patient is important for investors.
TL;DR: This week, Stellar launched Meridian Pay, a scalable smart wallet aimed at improving user experience, while also advancing NFTs on its network. Hedera enhanced its developer tools with Swift 6 support and highlighted its role in digital trust. Chainlink shared insights into blockchain’s impact on cross-border payments and stablecoins. Prices showed some declines in altcoins, but Ethereum remained steady. These developments signal ongoing growth and innovation in blockchain technology, making it an exciting time for both users and developers.
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