Rise In dispatched chapter leads from three countries to Meridian 2026, where Stellar marked a landmark year: developer base doubled, pushing Stellar to #2 by developer count (up from #9 a year ago). SDF leadership underscored that retention and local communities are key to scaling.
Rise In's team from Vietnam, Türkiye, and the Philippines attended Meridian 2026 in Lisbon, experiencing a pivotal moment for Stellar: the network's developer base doubled in 2026, pushing it to #2 in total developers after ranking #9 just a year prior. Monthly active developers surged 253%. SDF President José Fernández da Ponte credited the community for this growth and emphasized that Stellar's next priority is retention—keeping developers building long-term. Interviews with six SDF leaders revealed a consistent message: local chapters like Rise In are the entry point for builders worldwide. By conference's end, Rise In committed to expanding operations into Europe and deepening cross-chapter collaboration globally.
