Stellar Ecosystem
News

Meridian 2021, Stellar's annual conference, concluded with keynotes on climate and economy, a MoneyGram partnership announcement enabling cash on/off ramps via 400k+ agent locations, ecosystem builder sessions, regulatory debates, and SDF's 2022 strategic priorities focused on utility, participation, ecosystem growth, inclusion, and policy impact.

MoneyGram and the Stellar Development Foundation launched a live pilot enabling cash deposits and international payments via Stellar USDC with near-instant settlement, marking one of the fastest blockchain integrations for a major money transfer company.

The Stellar Development Foundation announced a $40M investment in Tala, a fintech company serving unbanked populations in Kenya, Mexico, India, and the Philippines. Tala will expand its digital banking platform to offer borrowing, saving, and payments using Stellar assets and USDC stablecoins.

The Stellar Development Foundation is partnering with academic institutions worldwide to build the next generation of blockchain developers. SDF VP Justin Rice explains the initiative aligns with the platform's mission to democratize access to financial infrastructure by empowering builders and creators.

MoneyGram announced it will use Stellar blockchain to enable USDC stablecoin payments and near-real-time settlement for its customers, with rollout beginning this year and international expansion in 2022.

MoneyGram partnered with Stellar Development Foundation and Circle to integrate USDC stablecoin on Stellar, enabling cash-to-USDC conversion at 400,000+ locations. The rollout begins in select markets in 2021, expanding internationally in 2022.

Stellar Development Foundation awarded Vottun an $850k grant to build a Stellar-powered cross-border payment solution for the Spanish regulatory sandbox, with PwC providing guidance on banking and financial services compliance.

Answerly closes SCF panel voting with milestones from three years of self-funded operation: a community of 50,000 members, 20,000 active users, and token listings on five major exchanges. Founders Raza Rizvi and Zain Haider seek SCF support to accelerate Stellar DEX integration and build partnerships across the Stellar ecosystem.

Bitt and the Stellar Development Foundation were selected as finalists in Singapore's Global CBDC Challenge to develop a retail central bank digital currency solution using Bitt's Digital Currency Management System integrated with the Stellar network.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

Visa partnered with fintech startup Tala to expand crypto adoption in emerging markets, providing USDC stablecoin access through Tala's digital wallet and enabling Visa-issued payment cards linked to the wallet.

SDF CEO reflects on two years leading the organization, highlighting key milestones including the first Meridian conference, quarterly transparency calls, and the network's resilience during the April 2021 validator halt. The post emphasizes SDF's commitment to openness, ecosystem collaboration, and building a decentralized network.

The Stellar Development Foundation responds to FATF's draft guidance on virtual assets and VASPs, arguing the proposal lacks evidence, threatens financial inclusion, and represents regulatory turf-protection rather than genuine financial crime prevention.

SDF reported strong Q1 2021 results across all strategic pillars, including USDC launch on Stellar, $6.5M in Enterprise Fund investments, and record network growth with 160% increase in payments and 196% increase in DEX volume.

Velo Labs, a Stellar-based cross-border settlement protocol backed by Thai conglomerate CP Group, has acquired Interstellar, a Stellar payment startup, in a nine-figure deal. The merger brings Interstellar's leadership to Velo and aims to accelerate blockchain remittance development across Southeast Asia.