Stripe Develops New Blockchain 'Tempo' for Stablecoin Payments

According to BlockBeats, Stripe is secretly developing a new blockchain named Tempo, aimed at enhancing stablecoin payment systems. A job listing on the Blockchain Association website revealed Stripe's plans, indicating the company is recruiting for product marketing positions related to this new chain. Tempo is described as a high-performance, payment-focused blockchain built in collaboration with Paradigm, compatible with Ethereum, and developed by a five-member team in a confidential mode. Although Fortune sought confirmation from both companies, the job listing has since expired, but the details remain online, suggesting the new chain may soon be launched. Stripe's acquisition strategy has been pivotal in its stablecoin infrastructure development. In October 2024, Stripe acquired Bridge, a stablecoin infrastructure company, for $1.1 billion, followed by the acquisition of wallet developer Privy in June this year. Bridge offers stablecoin issuance and integration capabilities, while Privy enhances wallet experiences. With Tempo's chain-level processing, Stripe aims to control the entire process from token minting to transaction settlement. Future enterprise clients might be able to complete stablecoin transactions through Stripe's interface, potentially bypassing the SWIFT network for instant cross-border settlements. The stablecoin market is gaining traction as a tool to reduce cross-border payment costs, with regulatory frameworks becoming clearer. U.S. President Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act in July, marking the first federal-level definition of stablecoin status, alleviating legal concerns for future corporate adoption. Tech giants are increasingly testing stablecoin services, indicating growing demand beyond the crypto-native sphere. Stripe CEO Patrick Collison highlighted the commercial interest in stablecoins during a House hearing in March, stating, "As underlying technology matures, we are seeing meaningful commercial interest in stablecoins." Tempo's launch date remains undisclosed, but the sequence of acquisitions and recruitment signals Stripe's ambition. The next competitive focus in the payment industry may shift from card fees to who can offer the fastest, cheapest, and most reliable stablecoin settlement services. Stripe's decision to build its own blockchain rather than integrate existing public chains underscores its intent to maintain control over every critical path from user interface to validation nodes in the global payment arena. A stablecoin-driven payment restructuring is accelerating.