Stellar Protocol 24 Vote, Chainlink DataLink Launch, and Market Updates – Oct 2025

What shipped

October 2025 has brought some exciting developments in the blockchain space, especially for projects like Ripple, Stellar, Hedera, Flare Network, and XDC Network. Several upgrades and new initiatives have been announced that improve how these networks operate and expand their capabilities.

One of the highlights is Stellar’s Protocol 24 upgrade, which was detailed in a recent developer guide. This upgrade aims to improve the network’s performance and fix some inconsistencies related to how data is stored and archived. Stellar’s community will soon vote on this upgrade, showing how blockchain projects often rely on decentralized decision-making to evolve.

Meanwhile, Chainlink, a popular decentralized oracle network that connects smart contracts to real-world data, shared its Q3 2025 quarterly review. They also announced winning the Swift Hackathon 2025 Business Challenge, emphasizing their growing role in bridging traditional finance with blockchain technology. In addition, Chainlink introduced DataLink, a new tool designed to bring institutional market data directly onto blockchains, making data more reliable and accessible for decentralized applications.

On the market front, Bitcoin continues its steady rise, now trading above $112,000, while Ethereum is holding strong around $4,030. Notably, Flare Network saw a healthy price increase of nearly 3% in the last 24 hours, reflecting growing interest. On the other hand, XDC Crowd Sale token experienced a slight dip of about 1%, reminding investors that market fluctuations are a normal part of crypto investing.

Why it matters

Upgrades like Stellar’s Protocol 24 are important because they keep blockchain networks efficient, secure, and scalable. As more people use these platforms for payments, smart contracts, and decentralized finance (DeFi), it’s essential that the underlying technology can handle increased demand without slowing down or losing data integrity.

The focus on open infrastructure, as discussed in Stellar’s recent blog post titled “Let’s build open highways, not railroads,” highlights a growing trend in blockchain development. This philosophy encourages creating systems that are accessible and interoperable, rather than closed or proprietary. Open infrastructure helps ensure that no single entity controls the network, increasing trust and fostering innovation.

Chainlink’s advances, especially with DataLink, show how blockchain is becoming more integrated with traditional financial markets. By bringing trusted market data on-chain, smart contracts can execute more complex and reliable financial agreements, opening doors for institutional investors and new use cases.

Market movements also matter because they reflect investor confidence and the real-world adoption of these technologies. Bitcoin and Ethereum’s steady price increases suggest ongoing interest from both retail and institutional investors. Meanwhile, the price changes in smaller tokens like Flare and XDC remind us that emerging projects can offer exciting opportunities but may come with more volatility.

Builders’ corner

If you’re a developer or someone interested in building on these networks, here are some concrete updates and opportunities:

Stellar Protocol 24 Upgrade: Developers should review the official upgrade guide to understand new features and prepare applications for the upcoming changes. Voting on the upgrade will shape the network’s future, so participating in governance is encouraged.
Chainlink DataLink: This new service allows developers to access high-quality institutional market data directly on-chain, improving the accuracy of decentralized apps (dApps) that rely on external information.
Ripple and Hedera: Both networks continue strengthening their ecosystems with partnerships and technical improvements, making them solid choices for building enterprise-grade blockchain solutions.
Flare Network: With its recent price gains and active development, Flare offers opportunities for builders interested in integrating smart contracts with other blockchains like XRP and Ethereum.
XDC Network: Although experiencing a slight price dip, XDC is focused on supply chain and trade finance, offering niche use cases for developers in these industries.

Quick prices

Bitcoin (BTC): $112,650 (+1.65% in 24h)
Ethereum (ETH): $4,030 (+1.86% in 24h)
Flare Network (FLR): $0.018 (+2.88% in 24h)
Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR): $0.178 (+1.61% in 24h)
Ripple (XRP): $2.50 (+2.09% in 24h)
Stellar (XLM): $0.329 (+1.16% in 24h)
XDC Crowd Sale (XDC): $0.063 (-1.02% in 24h)

What to watch

Looking ahead, there are several key events and trends to keep an eye on:

Stellar Protocol Upgrade Vote: The community vote will decide if Protocol 24 is adopted. This is a crucial moment that could improve network speed and reliability.
Institutional Adoption: Projects like BitcoinOS, which recently raised $10 million to expand institutional Bitcoin finance capabilities, signal growing interest from big players. Watch how this impacts market dynamics.
Market Reactions: Keep an eye on tokens like Hedera (HBAR), which recently experienced a drop due to some institutional selling. Understanding these moves can help investors make informed decisions.
Chainlink Innovations: As Chainlink continues integrating real-world data on-chain, its ecosystem could unlock new DeFi and enterprise applications.
Open Infrastructure Initiatives: The push for open, interoperable blockchain systems is likely to influence future protocols and developer tools, making the ecosystem more collaborative and user-friendly.

TL;DR: Stellar’s Protocol 24 upgrade and upcoming community vote promise better network performance. Chainlink is enhancing blockchain data with its new DataLink service and gaining recognition in the financial world. Bitcoin and Ethereum continue steady growth, while smaller projects like Flare and XDC offer exciting but volatile opportunities. Builders should explore the latest tools and upgrades, and investors should watch key votes and institutional moves shaping the space.

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Stellar Protocol 24 Vote, Chainlink DataLink Launch, and Market Updates – Oct 2025