What shipped
Welcome to your February 2026 blockchain update! This week, we’ve seen exciting developments across several promising blockchain projects, especially those focused on improving payments, smart contracts, and developer tools. Here’s a quick rundown of some key launches and announcements:
- Meridian Pay on Stellar: A new scalable smart wallet called Meridian Pay was launched on the Stellar network. This wallet aims to make digital payments smoother and more accessible for everyday users. You can read more about it here.
- NFTs at Meridian 2025: Stellar also showcased innovative uses of smart contracts for NFTs (non-fungible tokens), which are unique digital collectibles. This highlights how art and blockchain technology are coming together in new ways. Details are available here.
- Stablecoin Issuance on Brale: Stellar is advancing stablecoin technology, which are cryptocurrencies designed to maintain a stable value, often pegged to traditional money like the US dollar. This helps reduce the price swings common in crypto and is great for payments and savings. Check out the story here.
- Hedera’s Developer Tools Upgrade: Hedera Hashgraph announced support for Swift 6 in their Hiero Swift SDK. In simple terms, this means app developers using the Swift programming language (popular for iPhone apps) can now build faster and more efficiently on Hedera’s network. More info here.
- Hedera Highlights January 2026: The Hedera team shared updates on their developer ecosystem and recent progress, emphasizing their focus on digital trust and enterprise blockchain solutions. Read the summary here.
- Hedera at Davos 2026: Hedera participated in the World Economic Forum in Davos, discussing how blockchain can enhance digital trust worldwide. This event is a major gathering of global leaders and innovators. Details are available here.
- Chainlink Insights: Chainlink, a popular blockchain oracle network that connects blockchains to real-world data, shared articles on how blockchain improves cross-border payments and supports stablecoin issuers. These explain how blockchain technology is making international money transfers cheaper and faster. Learn more here.
Why it matters
These developments highlight important trends shaping blockchain’s future:
- Improved Payments: Stellar’s Meridian Pay wallet and stablecoin initiatives aim to make sending and receiving money easier, faster, and more affordable worldwide. This is especially valuable for people without access to traditional banking.
- Smart Contracts and NFTs: Smart contracts are self-executing agreements coded on blockchains. Stellar’s work with NFTs shows how these contracts can create unique digital assets, opening doors for artists and creators.
- Developer Experience: Hedera’s support for Swift 6 means more developers can easily build apps that interact with blockchain technology. Better tools mean more innovation and useful applications.
- Building Trust: Hedera’s presence at Davos and Chainlink’s focus on real-world data connections demonstrate blockchain’s growing role in building trust and transparency in finance and beyond.
For new and experienced investors alike, these advancements suggest blockchain is moving from experimental to practical, with real-world use cases gaining traction.
Builders’ corner
If you’re interested in building or learning more about these projects, here are some concrete ways to get involved:
- Explore Stellar’s Developer Resources: Stellar offers easy-to-use tools and tutorials for creating wallets, issuing tokens, and building smart contracts. Check out their developer hub to start experimenting.
- Try the Hiero Swift SDK: If you’re an iOS developer, Hedera’s updated Swift SDK can help you build blockchain-enabled apps. Visit the Hedera developer site for guides and downloads.
- Learn About Chainlink Oracles: Chainlink connects smart contracts to external data like prices or weather. This is key for creating real-world applications. The Chainlink developer portal offers tutorials and examples.
- Follow Latest News and Events: Attend conferences like Consensus Hong Kong 2026, where policy and technology leaders discuss crypto’s future. Staying informed helps you spot new opportunities early.
Quick prices
Here’s a snapshot of some popular cryptocurrencies as of February 8, 2026, 9:01 PM ET:
- Bitcoin (BTC): $70,307 (+1.4% in 24 hours) – Bitcoin remains the leading cryptocurrency and a popular store of value.
- Ethereum (ETH): $2,069 (-1.2%) – Ethereum powers many decentralized apps and smart contracts.
- Ripple (XRP): $1.42 (-0.65%) – Ripple focuses on fast cross-border payments.
- Stellar (XLM): $0.16 (-1.1%) – Stellar is known for affordable and quick payment solutions.
- Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR): $0.09 (+0.9%) – Hedera offers fast, secure decentralized applications.
- Flare Network (FLR): $0.0096 (-0.39%) – Flare aims to bring smart contract functionality to other blockchains.
- XDC Network (XDCE): $0.0366 (-1.5%) – XDC focuses on enterprise blockchain solutions.
What to watch
Looking ahead, here are some key themes and events to keep an eye on:
- Consensus Hong Kong 2026: This major crypto conference will highlight policy developments, industry trends, and innovative projects shaping the future of blockchain. It’s a great way to understand where the industry is headed.
- Bitcoin Market Signals: Recent reports suggest that Bitcoin bulls (optimistic investors) are noticing signs that the market may be stabilizing after recent volatility. Watching price trends can help you identify good entry points.
- Stablecoin Growth: As stablecoins become more widely used for payments and savings, projects like those on Stellar and Chainlink will be important to follow for real-world adoption.
- Developer Tool Upgrades: Improvements in developer software kits (SDKs) like Hedera’s Swift 6 support will continue to lower the barrier for app creation, so expect more innovative blockchain apps soon.
TL;DR: Stellar’s new Meridian Pay wallet and stablecoin advancements, Hedera’s developer toolkit upgrades, and Chainlink’s focus on real-world data are driving blockchain adoption forward. Bitcoin holds strong above $70K while Ethereum and other tokens see slight dips. Upcoming events like Consensus Hong Kong 2026 and ongoing developer innovations make this an exciting time to watch and participate in blockchain technology.
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