What Shipped
In the past week, the blockchain ecosystem has seen several important updates, particularly around some well-known projects like Stellar, Ripple, Hedera, Flare Network, and XDC Network. One of the standout developments is that a U.S. bank is actively testing the issuance of custom stablecoins on the Stellar Network. Stablecoins are a type of cryptocurrency designed to maintain a stable value, often pegged to a traditional currency like the U.S. dollar. This pilot shows growing interest from traditional finance institutions in blockchain technology for everyday financial services.
Stellar also released its Protocol 25 upgrade, known as “Stellar X-Ray,” which brings improvements to the network’s performance and security. Upgrades like this help make transactions faster, cheaper, and more reliable — all important factors for users and businesses adopting blockchain technology.
Meanwhile, Ripple and Stellar continue to see positive price movements, with Ripple’s XRP up about 1.28% in the last 24 hours and Stellar’s XLM also gaining steadily. On the other hand, Ethereum and Hedera have experienced slight price dips, showing the market’s typical short-term fluctuations.
Why It Matters
These updates highlight the ongoing maturation and adoption of blockchain technology, especially in the realm of cross-border payments and stablecoins. When a U.S. bank experiments with issuing stablecoins on Stellar, it signals trust in the technology and a potential shift in how money moves globally. Stablecoins can make transactions faster and less expensive compared to traditional banking methods, especially across countries.
The Stellar Protocol 25 upgrade is another critical step, as it enhances the network’s efficiency and security. For those new to blockchain, think of a protocol upgrade like updating your smartphone’s operating system—it brings new features and fixes that improve your overall experience.
Ripple and Stellar are both focused on simplifying international money transfers. Ripple’s XRP and Stellar’s XLM tokens are designed to act as bridges between different currencies, making it easier and cheaper to send money worldwide. This is a big deal for businesses and individuals who rely on quick, affordable cross-border payments.
Builders’ Corner
If you’re curious about how these networks are evolving or considering getting involved, here are some concrete examples and resources:
- Stellar Network: The recent Protocol 25 upgrade introduces enhanced transaction throughput and improved security measures. Developers and businesses can now build faster and more reliable apps on Stellar. You can learn more about this upgrade and its technical details on Stellar’s official blog here.
- Ripple: Ripple continues to push for adoption in the financial sector by partnering with banks and payment providers. Its XRP token is widely used to facilitate quick liquidity in cross-border payments.
- Flare Network: Flare recently saw a price increase, reflecting growing interest. Flare is known for bringing smart contract capabilities to networks like XRP and Litecoin, expanding what these blockchains can do.
- Hedera Hashgraph: Despite a slight price drop recently, Hedera offers a unique technology called a hashgraph, which aims to be a faster and more secure alternative to traditional blockchains.
- XDC Network: This network focuses on enterprise blockchain solutions, especially in trade finance and supply chain management.
For newcomers, it’s worth exploring these ecosystems through their official websites and developer resources. Many projects also offer community forums and tutorials to help you get started.
Quick Prices (as of November 29, 2025, 21:01 ET)
- Bitcoin (BTC): $90,938 (+4.96% in 24h) – Bitcoin remains the dominant cryptocurrency and a popular store of value.
- Ethereum (ETH): $3,005.77 (-1.04% in 24h) – Ethereum remains the go-to platform for decentralized applications and smart contracts.
- Ripple (XRP): $2.21 (+1.28% in 24h) – Growing interest as Ripple expands partnerships.
- Stellar (XLM): $0.254 (+0.54% in 24h) – Boosted by new developments and bank pilots.
- Flare Networks (FLR): $0.015 (+0.76% in 24h) – Increasing due to its smart contract integration.
- Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR): $0.144 (-0.93% in 24h) – Slight dip but still a promising technology.
- XDC Crowd Sale (XDC): $0.053 (-0.86% in 24h) – Focused on enterprise blockchain growth.
What to Watch
Looking ahead, here are some key areas to keep an eye on:
- Stablecoin Adoption: Watch how the U.S. bank’s pilot on Stellar progresses. Wider adoption of stablecoins by traditional banks could reshape payments and remittances globally.
- Protocol Upgrades: Follow further updates from Stellar and other blockchains as they improve speed, security, and usability. These upgrades often signal growing maturity and readiness for bigger use cases.
- Cross-Border Payments: Ripple and Stellar are leaders here, so news about new partnerships or regulatory approvals could impact their growth and token prices.
- Enterprise Blockchain Solutions: Networks like XDC and Hedera are working with businesses to solve real-world problems. Success stories in supply chain, trade finance, or identity management could drive interest.
- Market Trends: Keep an eye on Bitcoin ETFs and institutional involvement, such as BlackRock’s recent revenue boost from Bitcoin ETFs, which indicates growing mainstream acceptance of crypto investments.
TL;DR: A U.S. bank is testing stablecoins on Stellar, showing traditional finance’s growing trust in blockchain. Stellar’s Protocol 25 upgrade improves speed and security, helping it compete in cross-border payments. Ripple and Stellar tokens are rising slightly, while Ethereum and Hedera have dipped a bit. Watch for stablecoin adoption, protocol upgrades, and enterprise blockchain growth as key trends moving forward.
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