DeFi, payments, tokenization, Soroban, governance, and project launches — curated daily from publications, project blogs, and community channels across the Stellar blockchain ecosystem.
Stellar's Meridian 2021 conference (Nov 17-18) will showcase local builders creating financial inclusion solutions on the network. The event features ecosystem updates, debates on regulation and digital currencies, and community product demos under the theme Build Locally, Impact Globally.
Seth Hertlein from the Stellar Development Foundation spoke at a Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum in Panama about blockchain, illicit finance, and financial inclusion. He presented data showing cryptocurrency crime is minimal (0.34% of transactions) and argued policymakers should focus on blockchain's benefits for the unbanked rather than overreacting to crime risks.
Velo Labs, TEMPO Payments, and Bitazza have opened a remittance corridor between the EU and Thailand on Stellar, enabling fast cross-border transactions for a $17 billion market connecting 600 million customers.
Bitso, a leading Latin American exchange, is integrating Stellar USDC to offer cheaper and faster cross-border payments between the US and Mexico, benefiting its 2+ million users through reduced transaction costs and improved interoperability across the region.
Leaf Global Fintech, a Stellar-backed digital wallet for migrants and refugees in East Africa, shares insights on winning the Stellar Community Fund. The company emphasizes clear communication, user experience prioritization, and empathetic growth strategies.
THORWallet now supports Stellar asset management with single and multisig wallets, enabling XLM and USDC swaps on mobile. The integration includes Blend protocol access for yield generation, bringing institutional-grade DeFi security to Stellar.
Litemint, a Stellar Community Fund winner, shares lessons from applying to SCF twice: identifying community gaps, engaging with the ecosystem, and launching products iteratively. The gaming and NFT platform has grown to 1,400+ NFTs and 65,000+ tradable units on Stellar.
Stellar Development Foundation and Advent International are reportedly considering acquiring MoneyGram, the global money transfer company. The move reflects growing interest in integrating blockchain technology with legacy cross-border payment infrastructure.
Stellar Development Foundation has tentatively approached MoneyGram International about a potential acquisition in partnership with private equity firm Advent…
Stellar Development Foundation announced it has been certified as a Great Place to Work for the first time, with a 96% positive employee response rate and 100…
Stellar Development Foundation has contacted MoneyGram International about a potential acquisition in partnership with private equity firm Advent, according to Bloomberg. The deal would represent a significant move into remittances and could reshape the competitive landscape following Ripple's previous investment and subsequent exit from MoneyGram.
Project Venus is a DeFi protocol on Stellar using Turing Signing Servers (TSS) to enable trustless smart contracts without an on-chain VM. It implements short-term FX forwards to improve capital efficiency for Stellar-based financial institutions like remittance companies. TSS leverages off-chain servers (turrets) combined with Stellar's multi-sig for efficient DeFi.
SDF released its Q2 2021 report highlighting network growth, two protocol upgrades, $18M in Enterprise Fund investments, and the approval of Automated Market Makers for Protocol 18. The network demonstrated resilience after a temporary validator outage in April.
The Stellar Development Foundation relaunched its demo wallet with a unified interface consolidating separate protocol testing tools. The redesigned wallet now supports multiple SEPs including deposits, withdrawals, cross-border payments, and regulated assets, serving both developers and non-technical users learning Stellar protocols.
Liquid exchange now offers Stellar USDC with fee-free withdrawals, enabling customers to save $12-15 per transaction and settle in seconds compared to Ethereum-based USDC.
Liquid Group and Stellar Development Foundation announced a joint venture to offer USDC on Stellar, enabling faster and cheaper transactions. Users can now mo…
Liquid exchange now offers Stellar USDC with fee-free withdrawals, enabling customers to save $12-15 per transaction and settle in seconds compared to Ethereu…
Liquid exchange now offers Stellar-powered USDC with fee-free withdrawals, enabling users to save $12-15 per transaction compared to other networks while leve…
DFS Lab and the Stellar Development Foundation launched a three-day Blockchain Bootcamp for African startups to build on Stellar, with prizes up to 20,000 USDC and potential follow-on funding opportunities.
Denelle Dixon, CEO of the Stellar Development Foundation, discusses how Stellar addresses financial inclusion in emerging markets by reducing remittance costs, enabling women's financial access, and providing SMBs with tools to compete globally through low-cost, fast transactions.
Stellar Protocol 18 proposal to add automated market makers (AMMs) was approved for implementation on June 25, 2021. AMMs will provide an alternative liquidity source alongside the existing order book exchange, enabling easier participation in market making and improving cross-asset payment efficiency.
The Stellar Development Foundation joined the Association of Ukrainian Banks as a member, formalizing its advisory role in helping Ukraine develop blockchain and virtual asset capabilities alongside the country's banking system.
SDF convened Ukrainian financial leaders with blockchain experts to discuss virtual asset strategy ahead of new legislation. The event featured industry practitioners sharing real-world use cases on compliance, tokenization, CBDCs, and stablecoins to help shape Ukraine's emerging virtual asset ecosystem.
The Stellar Development Foundation announced updates to the Stellar Community Fund for 2021, including two funding rounds distributing 7M XLM total, new voting mechanics with budget self-selection, and a community-driven panelist selection process.
Stellar Protocol 17 introduced Asset Clawback on June 1st, 2021, enabling issuers to recover tokens from holders with opt-in consent. This feature facilitates regulated asset issuance like bonds and equities while maintaining transparency through visible account flags.
Stellar Development Foundation's Lisa Nestor discusses how USDC on Stellar enables fast, cheap cross-border payments and remittances, with transaction costs measured in fractions of a cent versus thousands on other networks.
This article explains how to use the Stellar network for everyday payments and remittances, emphasizing its speed, low cost, and ecological benefits over traditional banking. It covers wallet options like Keybase, Lobstr, Freighter, and hardware wallets, security best practices, and methods to spend XLM via exchanges or crypto debit cards. The author shares personal experiences sending XLM to family members.
Wyre launched a Savings API enabling FinTechs to offer yield-earning savings products using Stellar USDC, with returns far exceeding traditional U.S. savings accounts. The API provides easy on-ramps to Stellar assets and monthly compounding earnings with no ACH fees.