Stellar Ecosystem
News

A free eBook guidebook explaining how businesses can use the Stellar network to streamline cross-border payments, reduce costs, and leverage stablecoins for international transactions without currency volatility.

MoneyGram International has launched MoneyGram Ramps, a cash-to-crypto on and off-ramp service powered by the Stellar blockchain and USDC stablecoin. The service enables unbanked and underbanked populations to convert physical cash to digital assets at MoneyGram's 480,000+ locations worldwide, addressing the critical last-mile problem in blockchain adoption.

Arf, a regulated liquidity and settlement platform, leverages the Stellar network and USDC to provide cross-border payment solutions for financial institutions. By eliminating pre-funding requirements and enabling same-day settlements, Arf has extended over $830 million in loans with $1.6 billion in on-chain transaction volume since 2022.

Vesseo is a wallet app built on Stellar by Sunship, Inc. (an SDF subsidiary) that enables Argentines to quickly and cheaply purchase and hold USDC to protect against peso devaluation. The app leverages Stellar's fast settlement, low fees, and asset issuance capabilities to provide a simple alternative to traditional dollar-holding methods.

The Stellar Newsletter highlights upcoming events like Meridian 2023 in Madrid with Idris Elba, MoneyGram's USDC case study on Stellar, and Coinbase's integration with USDC on the network. It covers improvements to the Anchor Directory, wallet on/off-ramp integrations, Soroban infrastructure projects, and a new Soroban security bug bounty. Developer updates include proposed transaction changes and SCF submission best practices.

Coinbase now supports USDC deposits and withdrawals via Stellar, enabling millions of users to access faster, low-cost digital dollar transactions with near-zero fees and 5-second settlement times across 180+ countries.

Franklin Templeton's OnChain U.S. Government Money Fund, which uses Stellar blockchain for record-keeping, now has over $290 million in assets under management. The firm is exploring blockchain's potential to transform capital markets through tokenization and smart contracts.

Argentina's economic instability and poor official exchange rates drive citizens to seek better alternatives for currency exchange. Beans, a non-custodial wallet on the Stellar blockchain, uses stablecoins like USDC to enable tax-free, market-rate conversions between USD and ARS, often surpassing the blue dollar rate. This allows faster, cheaper cross-border transfers with added features like free transactions and interest-bearing savings.

The Stellar Development Foundation is using blockchain technology and the Stellar Disbursement Platform to deliver humanitarian cash aid at scale, enabling instant, low-cost, transparent fund transfers to aid recipients globally through digital wallets and stablecoins.

The Stellar Development Foundation outlines emerging global consensus on stablecoin regulation, highlighting core principles around transparency, reserve backing, and consumer protections that align with SDF's asset issuance framework as jurisdictions like the EU and UK advance comprehensive crypto regulatory frameworks.

The Stellar Newsletter highlights Q1 achievements including Franklin Templeton's OnChain Fund surpassing $270M AUM on Stellar blockchain, SDF's strategic progress, and new board member Asiff Hirji. It covers partnerships like Arf, Cebuana Lhuillier, and blockchain remittances, plus Soroban smart contracts developments and community spotlights. Upcoming Meridian 2023 in Madrid is announced.

The Stellar Development Foundation met with UK government officials to discuss digital assets regulation, submitting a response to HM Treasury's consultation on cryptoasset frameworks and stablecoin requirements.

Franklin Templeton's OnChain U.S. Government Money Fund surpassed $270 million in assets under management on Stellar, with the Stellar Development Foundation CEO highlighting regulatory clarity as key to mainstream adoption. The fund is now accessible via the Benji Investments app.

Stellar Development Foundation launched Stellar Aid Assist, a stablecoin-based platform enabling humanitarian organizations to distribute cash aid via USDC through the Stellar network. The platform eliminates intermediaries, reduces costs to near-zero, and provides recipients secure access to funds without bank accounts, currently piloted with Ukrainian refugees.

FinClusive and Anclap launched a pilot program on Stellar demonstrating that blockchain-based remittances between the US and Colombia cost roughly half traditional methods (2.68% vs 5.36%), using stablecoins like USDC for faster, cheaper cross-border transfers.

AMA recap with MYKOBO CEO Seyi Akin-Olugbemi, issuer of the EURC Euro stablecoin on Stellar. He discusses his background in fintech, the motivation behind MYKOBO for financial inclusion in Africa, and why Stellar is ideal for value transfer. MYKOBO app supports EURC, USDC, XLM, and AQUA, all on Stellar, with upcoming liquidity pools.

Thomaz Texeira, CEO of nTokens, discusses building fintech solutions on Stellar in this founder interview. He explains how blockchain democratizes finance globally and why smart contracts will enable programmable money for underserved markets.

Coinme and the Stellar Development Foundation launched USDC on Stellar through Coinme's wallet and 40,000+ U.S. cash locations, enabling low-cost conversion between physical cash and digital dollars for financial inclusion.

MYKOBO has reduced its minimum crypto-to-crypto send and buy/sell values from €20/20 EURC to €1/1 EURC, making trading and transfers more accessible. This change aims to empower users of all trade sizes in the crypto economy. MYKOBO issues the EURC stablecoin on the Stellar blockchain, bridging European finance to blockchain.

Arf, a Swiss-regulated settlement banking platform backed by the Stellar Development Foundation, launched Arf Credit Line, offering unsecured USDC-based working capital financing for licensed financial institutions. The solution enables same-day cross-border settlements without pre-funding, addressing liquidity constraints in the payments industry.

MYKOBO, issuer of the EURC euro stablecoin on the Stellar blockchain, assures users of its secure and audited reserves amid the USDC depeg event. The company highlights its robust reserve management and adherence to regulations, positioning EURC as a stable bridge between European finance and blockchain. Monthly attestation reports are available for transparency.

Stellar launched the Spacewalk bridge to Polkadot and Kusama via Pendulum, connecting DeFi applications to forex markets and Stellar's fiat on-ramps across 300,000+ MoneyGram locations worldwide. The bridge enables stablecoin transfers including USDC and regional currencies like Argentine pesos and Brazilian reals.

EURC is a Euro-pegged stablecoin launched on the Stellar blockchain by UAB MYKOBO, offering secure, fast, and sustainable transactions. It has seen significant adoption with over 150k in circulating supply and substantial trading volume on Stellar's DEX. To celebrate its launch and MYKOBO's anniversary, zero transaction fees are offered throughout March 2023.

The Stellar Development Foundation outlines its 2023 policy priorities, including advocating for robust blockchain regulation, pushing for bipartisan stablecoin legislation, and demonstrating real-world blockchain utility through projects like MoneyGram and Stellar Aid Assist.

Wirex has integrated XLM and USDC on Stellar into its non-custodial wallet, marking the first such wallet without seed phrase vulnerability to support Stellar. The integration expands Wirex Wallet's blockchain support to nine networks.