Executive Director Message
Hello Stellar Ecosystem,
In a blink of an eye, the first quarter of the year is over. With a whirlwind of activity and loads of travel, I think the message is being heard: don’t focus on what blockchain is, care about what it does. And, what it does is remove barriers for business and individuals alike as they transact in the world’s economy.
So what happened this quarter? Stellar and SDF were a huge hit at Paris Blockchain Week Summit, and thanks to all your support, UNHCR ended up bagging the prize for ‘Best Impact Blockchain Project’! We were also able to hammer the importance of blockchain’s real-world utility to key stakeholders.
Another key announcement — save the date for Meridian 2023! I can’t believe this is our fifth Meridian, FIFTH — this time, in Madrid, Spain from September 26–28. Stay tuned for registration details here… they should be out shortly!
Denelle
First U.S.-registered mutual fund to process transactions and record share ownership on Stellar blockchain
Franklin Templeton’s Franklin OnChain U.S. Government Money Fund has surpassed $270 million in assets under management, becoming the first U.S.-registered fund to use a public blockchain to process transactions and record share ownership. The Fund reflects a meaningful integration between blockchain technology and traditional financial institutions, demonstrating the potential for increased interoperability in the financial system.
Stellar Development Foundation Q1 2023 in Review
The first quarter of 2023 flew by, and the Stellar Development Foundation made significant strides on its roadmap to further its strategy: utility is the growth exponent. To that end, SDF delivered on the three building blocks: make innovation easy and scalable, win over builders, and focus on utility to build trust.
Stellar Development Foundation Appoints Asiff Hirji of MoonPay to Board of Directors
Asiff Hirji, President of MoonPay, joins the Stellar Development Foundation’s board of directors to support their mission of creating equitable access to the global financial system. Hirji brings over 30 years of experience in financial technology and services and a deep understanding of scaling the real-world application of blockchain technology.
Arf Solving Liquidity Constraints in Cross-Border Payments with Support from Stellar Development Foundation
Arf, with support from the Stellar Development Foundation, is now offering the world’s first unsecured, short-term USDC-based working capital financing solutions for licensed financial institutions, aimed at solving the liquidity constraints faced by payment and remittance companies in cross-border payments. Arf Credit Line has already provided over $80 million in loans to licensed financial institutions within four months of its launch, enabling same-day settlements without pre-funding or additional collateral.
Cebuana Lhullier Integrates with Stellar for Fast Cross-Border Payments to the Philippines
Cebuana Lhuillier has integrated with the Stellar network to provide blockchain-based remittance services to its customers, allowing them to receive cross-border remittance payments with near-instant settlement, lower fees, and cash payout services at 2,500 branches across the Philippines. The integration is expected to provide a blockchain-powered alternative to traditional remittance flows, improving the global financial system by bringing equitable access to the most critical markets.
Blockchain Remittances: A Game Changer for Cross-Border Transfers
Are traditional remittance methods giving you a headache? FinClusive and Anclap are shaking up the world of cross-border transfers with a pilot program that utilizes stablecoins, making remittances cheaper and faster than ever before. This program is a practical example of how blockchain-based solutions can reduce costs and improve financial inclusion, potentially transforming the global payments landscape.
Novatti and AUDD to Participate in a CBDC Pilot
Novatti and AUDD announced their participation in a CBDC pilot to explore the potential use cases and economic benefits of central bank digital currency in Australia. This initiative is led by the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre in conjunction with the Reserve Bank of Australia. Novatti is among a cohort of leading industry players who will be taking part in this limited-scale CBDC pilot which will have a real claim on the Reserve Bank.
Stellar Community Fund Recap: Financial Innovation Powered by Soroban
The Stellar Development Foundation is supporting the adoption of Soroban — the new Stellar smart contracts platform — through various programs. This article highlights four ecosystem projects from the Stellar Community Fund (SCF) that showcase Soroban’s potential with innovative use cases. With a growing number of projects, tools, and educational materials emerging from the community, Soroban on Futurenet is becoming a popular choice for developers to experiment with.
Soroban + Stellar = ❤
Discover how Soroban, a smart contracts platform built atop the Stellar network, aims to advance financial inclusion for the unbanked and underserved populations. With Soroban’s features, developers can create decentralized financial protocols that bridge the gap between cash economies and digital assets, revolutionizing the way people access financial services. Learn how this groundbreaking innovation works in tandem with Stellar’s anchor network and MoneyGram Access to create unparalleled financial opportunities. Don’t miss out on the future of DeFi — read the full article and start experimenting with Soroban today!
Tech Talks with Tomer: Smart Contracts and Interoperability with Axelar Co-founder Sergey Gorbunov
Founder Journeys
Our Founder Journeys explore the brilliant minds building real-world blockchain solutions on Stellar. So many of the innovations taking place on blockchain are built by people looking to address problems that have long persisted in communities they care about.
Founder Journeys: Rubén Galindo Steckel, Co-founder & CEO of Airtm
Founder Journeys: Thomaz Texeira, Co-founder & CEO of nTokens
Founder Journeys: Tori Samples, Co-founder of Leaf Global Fintech
For Developers:
Developers on Stellar: Christian Rogobete, Soneso
Discover the story of Stellar SDK wizard Christian Rogobete and his journey in the world of blockchain. Learn how his passion for gaming led to success in iOS development and his fascination with Stellar.
Developers on Stellar: Elliot Voris, ElliotFriend
Meet Elliot Voris, a Stellar fan turned SDF employee. Learn how Elliot’s passion for technology, problem-solving skills, and involvement in the Stellar community led him to work on Stellar Quest, contribute to educational content, and more.
Building on Soroban: Analyzing Soroban vs. Ethereum & Solana
In the world of smart contract platforms, developers have many choices to make. In this article, we consider why Soroban may be the best choice for some. Rather than simply going with the most popular or engaging option, it’s important to consider what platform best supports your goals and values. While Soroban may not be the answer for everyone, it’s a compelling choice to consider.
Building on Soroban: Three Teams’ Journeys with Smart Contracts
Soroban, a new smart contracts platform, is in its seventh preview release on the shared test network, Futurenet. The Stellar Development Foundation has launched various programs to encourage early adoption, leading to the creation of innovative projects, tools, and educational materials. Conversations with the creators and developers of these projects reveal their positive experiences with Soroban-related programs and the platform’s greenfield environment.
Making International Remittances Easy with Pay by Phone
Explore the world of global remittances with Vibrant, a mobile wallet designed to help the unbanked send money quickly and affordably. Learn how their new “Send to Phone” feature allows users to send USDC to non-Vibrant users via their phone number, enabling recipients to cash out instantly without needing a bank account. Discover how Vibrant leveraged Stellar’s SEP-30 to build this game-changing feature, and follow the step-by-step guide to implement it in your own project.
