Stellar Meridian 2025 Recap: Stellar’s Blueprint for the Next Decade

Stellar’s annual Meridian 2025 conference – held at Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Palace on September 17–18, 2025 – brought together over 1,000 developers, financial leaders, and regulators to chart “The Blueprint” for the next decade of digital finance.

Over two days, the Stellar Development Foundation (SDF) unveiled major product launches and partnerships, underscoring Stellar’s expanding role in real-world asset tokenization, stablecoins, and emerging markets. From a new smart wallet and yield-bearing stablecoins to tokenized funds and cross-chain integrations, Meridian 2025 showcased Stellar’s growing ecosystem and its strategic focus on Latin America.

Below we break down the key announcements, insights from industry leaders, community highlights, and what it all means for Stellar’s position in the crypto ecosystem.

Stellar Meridian 2025 in Rio: Everything You Need to Know

Stellar Meridian 2025 is coming to Rio de Janeiro on September 17–18, bringing builders, innovators, and policymakers together at the iconic Copacabana Palace. With the theme “The Blueprint,” this year’s conference sets the stage for the next decade of open finance.

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Major Announcements and New Initiatives

New Smart Wallet and Stablecoin Launches

One headline reveal was Meridian Pay, an open-source smart wallet built by SDF to demonstrate what’s possible on Stellar.

The browser-based wallet seamlessly leverages Stellar’s new smart contracts (Soroban) under the hood, while keeping the user experience simple. Conference attendees each received $100 in XLM to test Meridian Pay by purchasing merchandise on-site.

This wallet showcases how Stellar’s technology can power intuitive fintech apps – from NFTs to payments, without users needing to understand the complexity beneath.

Stellar’s growing stablecoin ecosystem was also on display. Ondo Finance announced the launch of USDY, a yield-bearing stablecoin on Stellar backed by tokenized U.S. Treasuries. Ondo’s Chief Strategy Officer called Stellar’s DeFi capabilities a “perfect fit” for this regulated Treasury product. And in a major integration, PayPal’s USD (PYUSD) – a fully USD-backed stablecoin – went live on the Stellar network, extending PYUSD into new wallets and payment platforms.

“Having a global leader like PayPal bring PYUSD to the Stellar network is a major step forward in how stablecoins can power real-world payments”
-SDF CEO Denelle Dixon

With PYUSD on Stellar, millions of users (via apps like Bitcoin.com, Chipper Cash, and more) can now access a trusted dollar stablecoin for low-cost transfers. These launches underscore Stellar’s emphasis on stablecoins as a bridge between crypto and everyday finance, especially in regions where dollar access provides stability.

Tokenization of Real-World Assets (RWAs)

Real-world asset tokenization emerged as a core theme, with several high-profile projects unveiled. Centrifuge, a leading RWA platform, introduced its deRWA series on Stellar, starting with two tokenized funds: deJTRSY (a DeFi version of Janus Henderson’s Short-Term U.S. Treasury fund) and deJAAA (a DeFi AAA-rated collateralized loan obligation). These funds will trade 24/7 on Stellar, giving everyday users access to institutional-grade assets like Treasuries that were previously out of reach. By bringing regulated investment products on-chain, Centrifuge aims to “unlock liquidity, transparency, and market access” for a broader investor base.

Latin America’s largest crypto investment platform, Mercado Bitcoin, announced a $200 million tokenization program on Stellar. The Brazilian fintech will issue $200M in tokenized fixed-income and equity instruments on Stellar, leveraging the network’s security and compliance features.

"The Stellar network’s resilience and native controls make it a network trusted around the globe by financial institutions and regulators."
-Fabrício Tota, Mercado Bitcoin’s New Business SVP

SDF’s Chief Business Officer, Raja Chakravorti, added that Mercado’s diverse tokenized offerings will “strengthen the Stellar network” and bolster its reputation as “the preeminent blockchain for tokenized real-world assets.”

For investors, this partnership signals growing demand to put traditional assets like bonds and equities on Stellar, opening cross-border investment opportunities.

Another RWA innovation came from Etherfuse, a Brazilian fintech, which unveiled TESOURO – dubbed a “stablebond” – backed by Brazilian government bonds. TESOURO offers yields around 13% APY (in BRL terms) by tokenizing Brazil’s central bank bonds. This gives local and global investors a new way to gain exposure to Brazil’s bond market via a stable-value token.

Together, projects like Centrifuge’s funds, Mercado Bitcoin’s tokenizations, and Etherfuse’s bonds highlight Stellar’s momentum in bringing real-world assets (RWAs) onto blockchain rails. Speakers noted that such tokenization can democratize access to high-quality assets and unlock liquidity, provided the market can achieve sufficient depth and liquidity to attract institutions.

Cross-Chain Interoperability and Platform Upgrades

Stellar used the Meridian stage to emphasize interoperability and infrastructure upgrades. In a fireside chat titled “A Vision for Universal Interoperability,” LayerZero Labs announced it will integrate Stellar into its cross-chain messaging protocol. This move will connect Stellar to 140+ other blockchains via LayerZero’s “omnichain” platform.

Developers will be able to build cross-chain smart contracts that interact with Stellar, “no bridges, no wrapped assets” required. By joining the LayerZero network, Stellar aims to make asset transfers and liquidity movement between chains seamless – a strategic step as decentralized finance grows more multi-chain.

Meanwhile, MoneyGram – a key Stellar partner – confirmed a major upgrade to its services. CEO Anthony Soohoo announced that MoneyGram’s new app will let users hold digital dollars (USDC on Stellar) natively.

"We’re providing maximum flexibility for users to hold currency in USD and redeem at the moment they want to spend on their own terms”

• Anthony Soohoo

This integration, built with fintech partner Crossmint, is rolling out first in Colombia before expanding globally. It effectively turns MoneyGram’s retail network into an on/off-ramp where users can store savings in stablecoin USD and cash out when needed – a practical real-world crypto use case.

Stellar’s core platform saw notable enhancements as well. SDF’s product team announced updates to its Disbursement Platform, which is used for aid and B2B payments, now adding support for multiple payment flows and Soroban smart contracts.

Product Director Tori Samples demoed how organizations can use these new features for automated payroll, government disbursements, and business payouts, leveraging Stellar’s programmability. This evolution of SDF’s Stellar Aid Assist platform shows a push toward more flexible, smart contract-powered payment solutions for enterprises and nonprofits.

Additionally, ecosystem developers showcased tooling improvements, including a refreshed user interface for Stellar’s AMM (automated market maker) and upgrades to the Stellar Expert blockchain explorer to better serve both DeFi users and analysts. These technical upgrades aim to improve user experience and transparency as network activity grows.

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Key Themes: Stablecoins, Tokenization, and Real Economy Use Cases

A clear through-line at Meridian 2025 was Stellar’s positioning as a bridge between traditional finance and blockchain, especially in payments and emerging markets. Stablecoins were highlighted as crucial tools for financial access.

In a fireside chat on Brazil’s fintech revolution, former Central Bank of Brazil President Roberto Campos Neto (now Vice-Chairman at Nubank) explained why stablecoin demand is surging in developing economies. Stablecoins provide “a very cheap way to create an account in dollars” for people in countries with non-convertible or unstable currencies.

In other words, a digital dollar on Stellar can be a lifeline for users facing high inflation or capital controls. This sentiment was echoed by Eduardo Cavaliere, Vice Mayor of Rio, who hailed his city as an ideal sandbox for crypto innovation. “If there is a place for stablecoins, for blockchain to thrive, I think Rio is the best place,” Cavaliere said, citing the city’s tech talent and need for financial inclusion.

Prominent asset managers are also embracing blockchain in ways that abstract away complexity. In a keynote, Ricardo (Ric) Golubov of Franklin Templeton highlighted the importance of peer-to-peer functionality and frictionless user experience in on-chain finance. He likened future blockchain usage to driving a car: “You don’t have to know how a tokenized asset works,” just as drivers needn’t understand an engine to benefit from a vehicle. Franklin Templeton, which already runs a tokenized money market fund on Stellar, aims to hide the blockchain plumbing so that end-users and institutions can leverage tokenized assets with confidence and simplicity.

Another theme was interoperability and regulatory clarity as keys to broader adoption. Circle’s Latin America policy head Daniel Mangabeira drew an analogy: “People don’t say they will send a ‘cross-border email,’ they just press a button,” he said, arguing that moving money internationally should become just as seamless.

Overall, Meridian’s discussions painted a picture of Stellar doubling down on real-economy use cases – stablecoins for everyday payments and savings, tokenized assets for investment and liquidity, and cross-chain/interbank links for a more connected global financial system. This aligns with SDF’s mission to make blockchain “usable” and integrated with the traditional financial infrastructure. Notably, Stellar’s on-chain metrics have been reflecting this momentum: its DeFi total value locked (TVL) hit around $150 million (near all-time highs) during the conference, up over 200% since the start of 2025.

Meanwhile, XLM – Stellar’s native token – has appreciated roughly 300% year-over-year, giving Stellar a ~$12 billion market cap. While investors should always be cautious, these indicators suggest growing usage and confidence in the network’s direction.

Community Engagement and Hackathon Innovation

Meridian 2025 wasn’t just about big companies – it also celebrated grassroots innovation through HackMeridian 2025, a 36-hour hackathon held on Sept. 15–16 before the main event. Over 500 builders from around the world formed teams in Rio to create solutions on Stellar and Soroban. SDF’s Justin Rice announced the top projects during the conference wrap-up highlighting how community developers are addressing real-world problems:

• 1st Place – Lance: A decentralized freelance marketplace connecting companies with talent via Web3. Lance enables hiring and payments to freelancers through smart contracts, creating a streamlined, trust-minimized platform for the gig economy. (Team Lance won the “Composability” track, showcasing how Stellar’s contracts can integrate multiple functions.)
• 2nd Place – SimpleFund: A platform for on-chain receivables financing. SimpleFund lets businesses tokenize their accounts receivable into a fund and issue a fungible token representing the claim, which investors can purchase. These tokens can then be traded on the Stellar DEX, providing liquidity to businesses and a new fixed-income product to investors. This idea demonstrated how Stellar’s DEX and asset features can make financing more efficient.
• 3rd Place – Otto Stellar: A crypto point-of-sale (POS) system built on Stellar for merchants. Otto allows stores to accept Stellar-based assets (like USDC or XLM) via a simple interface, with instant conversion and settlement on the network. This solution aims to lower barriers for brick-and-mortar crypto payments, aligning with Stellar’s focus on real-world utility.

These winning projects – each addressing a different use case (labor markets, small business finance, and retail payments) – reflect the creativity and practical mindset of Stellar’s developer community.

Latin America’s Role in Stellar’s Strategy

Hosting Meridian 2025 in Brazil was a deliberate choice. Stellar’s leadership made clear that Latin America (LATAM) is a key frontier for blockchain adoption, and the conference reinforced that message in multiple ways. Many announcements had a strong LATAM nexus: Mercado Bitcoin’s $200M tokenization is Brazil-focused, Etherfuse’s bonds target Brazilian investors, and MoneyGram’s USDC rollout chose Colombia as the pilot market.

By partnering with prominent Latin American fintechs and showcasing success stories in the region, Stellar is aligning itself with the real economic needs of emerging markets – from inflation-resistant savings to SME financing.

Local policymakers’ involvement also signaled growing regional support. Rio’s Vice Mayor Cavaliere advocating for blockchain innovation in the city, and Brazil’s former central banker Campos Neto endorsing stablecoins for financial inclusion, suggest that Latin America’s regulators are relatively forward-looking on crypto. This contrasts with some uncertainty in the U.S./Europe and may give Stellar an advantage in LATAM deployments. “Latin America is becoming increasingly important for on-chain finance,” SDF’s Raja Chakravorti noted.

For the Stellar network, establishing a strong LATAM footprint could have network effects: greater transaction volumes (e.g. remittances into high-inflation economies), a pipeline of startups building on Stellar, and potentially favorable regulatory treatment as authorities see blockchain delivering social and economic benefits. By the end of Meridian 2025, the message was clear – Stellar is not only a global platform but one deeply invested in emerging market growth, with Latin America at the forefront of that vision.

Looking Ahead: Meridian 2026 in Abu Dhabi

SDF wasted no time in stoking excitement for next year. Meridian 2026 was officially announced for Abu Dhabi, UAE, on October 21–22, 2026. In a dramatic twist, the venue will be the Yas Marina Formula 1 circuit, signaling a high-profile event where finance and technology will “shift into high gear” on the world stage. Ahead of the main conference, another HackMeridian is slated for Oct 19–20, 2026, to continue the hackathon tradition of igniting innovation.

Choosing the Middle East – a region rapidly embracing fintech and blockchain – for Meridian’s next edition underlines Stellar’s intent to grow its global footprint. Abu Dhabi’s government and financial institutions have been notably crypto-friendly, which could mean even more participation from banks and regulators alongside developers.

For investors and stakeholders, Meridian 2025 demonstrated Stellar’s maturation: the network is delivering on technical upgrades (smart contracts, interoperability), fostering real use cases (stablecoin wallets, tokenized assets), and gaining recognition from both startups and heavyweights in finance.

The conference’s themes of stablecoins, tokenization, and emerging market impact resonate strongly with current trends where blockchain is solving tangible problems. As the Stellar community carries this momentum towards Meridian 2026 in Abu Dhabi, all eyes will be on how Stellar capitalizes on these partnerships and innovations in the year ahead.

In the ever-evolving crypto ecosystem, Stellar has laid a robust blueprint – now it’s about building, without compromise, the inclusive financial future it envisions.

Keep building!