What Shipped
In recent days, the blockchain and crypto world has seen some exciting developments, especially around the Stellar Network and Ripple, two projects focused on making cross-border payments faster and cheaper. Notably, a major U.S. bank is now testing the issuance of custom stablecoins on the Stellar Network. Stablecoins are digital currencies designed to keep a stable value, usually pegged to a traditional currency like the U.S. dollar. This test means the bank is exploring how to create its own digital dollar on Stellar, which could simplify and speed up international money transfers.
Additionally, Stellar announced the release of its Protocol 25 upgrade, called Stellar X-Ray. This is a technical improvement to the network that enhances security, efficiency, and compliance features, making the platform more reliable and attractive for businesses and developers. The upgrade guide and announcement were published last week, helping developers understand the new features and how to use them.
On the payments front, a crypto company named Truther is launching a new Visa card in El Salvador that supports USDT, a popular stablecoin. This card will be non-custodial, meaning users keep control of their funds instead of trusting a third party. This is a step forward in making crypto payments usable in everyday life.
Why It Matters
These updates highlight a growing trend: traditional financial institutions and blockchain projects are working together to make digital assets more practical and compliant with regulations. The U.S. bank’s stablecoin test on Stellar shows confidence in blockchain technology to improve how money moves globally. Stablecoins on a network like Stellar can reduce costs and delays compared to traditional banking systems, which often involve multiple middlemen and slow processing times.
The Stellar X-Ray upgrade is important because it keeps the network up-to-date with the latest technology, ensuring it can handle more users and transactions securely. This is crucial for attracting more businesses and developers to build on Stellar.
Meanwhile, Ripple and Stellar, two of the leading blockchain projects focused on payments, saw positive price movements recently. Ripple’s token XRP rose by about 1% in the last 24 hours, and Stellar’s XLM also gained slightly. This suggests growing investor interest as these networks continue to roll out real-world applications.
Builders’ Corner
If you’re a developer or just curious about how these projects work, here are some key points to understand:
- Stablecoins: These are cryptocurrencies designed to maintain a steady value, often backed by fiat currency reserves. They enable easier trading and payments without the volatility of typical cryptocurrencies.
- Protocol Upgrades: Networks like Stellar periodically update their software (protocol) to improve speed, security, and features. Protocol 25 (Stellar X-Ray) includes enhancements that improve compliance with regulations, a key factor for adoption by banks and businesses.
- Non-Custodial Wallets: These wallets give users full control over their private keys and funds. The new USDT Visa card in El Salvador uses this technology, meaning users don’t have to rely on third parties to hold their assets.
- Cross-Border Payments: Both Ripple and Stellar focus on making international money transfers faster and cheaper by using blockchain technology to bypass traditional banking hurdles.
For developers building on Stellar, the new Protocol 25 brings tools to create more secure and compliant applications. You can find detailed guides on the Stellar blog to help you get started.
Quick Prices (As of November 29, 2025)
- Bitcoin (BTC): $90,471 (down 0.22% in 24 hours)
- Ethereum (ETH): $2,971.75 (down 2.15%)
- Ripple (XRP): $2.20 (up 1.05%)
- Stellar (XLM): $0.2559 (up 0.65%)
- Flare Network (FLR): $0.0150 (up 0.02%)
- Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR): $0.1433 (down 1.28%)
- XDC Network (XDC): $0.0532 (up 0.16%)
What to Watch
Looking ahead, keep an eye on these key areas:
- Stablecoin Adoption by Banks: If more banks follow the U.S. bank’s lead and issue stablecoins on blockchain networks like Stellar, it could revolutionize how money moves globally.
- Stellar Protocol 25 Impact: Watch how businesses and developers adopt the new features from the Stellar upgrade. Increased usage could boost the network’s value and utility.
- Crypto Payment Cards: The launch of non-custodial USDT Visa cards in countries like El Salvador could make spending crypto easier and more mainstream.
- Regulatory Developments: Compliance remains a hot topic. Articles like “Answering the Call: Compliance for the Future of Finance” show how blockchain projects are preparing for stricter regulations while still innovating.
- Market Trends: While Bitcoin and Ethereum saw slight declines, Ripple and Stellar’s positive moves might indicate growing interest in payment-focused blockchains.
Overall, these developments signal that blockchain technology is becoming more integrated with traditional finance, making digital assets more accessible and practical for everyday use.
TL;DR: A U.S. bank is testing stablecoin issuance on Stellar, aiming to improve cross-border payments. Stellar released its Protocol 25 upgrade to enhance security and compliance. Ripple and Stellar tokens showed positive price moves, reflecting growing interest. Crypto payment cards and regulatory compliance remain key trends to watch as blockchain becomes more mainstream and practical for global finance.
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