SDF Q1 2025 Review Webinar

This AMA marks the public debut of Karsh and da Ponte, who joined SDF in mid-2025 with impressive pedigrees from Blockchain.com, Block, and PayPal. The session will tackle key topics: why they chose Stellar, strategies for adoption and regulation, and the partnerships driving Web3 growth. Held for an hour in the r/Stellar subreddit, it’s a chance for the community to ask about roadmap updates, real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, and more. Expect candid discussions that could shape investor confidence and developer interest in Stellar’s network.Recent NewsSDF has been on a roll. In January 2025, the foundation announced a leadership expansion, signaling a focus on growth (Stellar.net). More recently, da Ponte’s PayPal background gained attention with the launch of "Pay with Crypto" in 2025, enabling 100+ cryptocurrency payments globally—a move that could align with Stellar’s cross-border payment strengths. Additionally, a DTCC patent filing mentioning $XLM hints at deeper ties with traditional finance, boosting Stellar’s credibility.Future PlansSDF aims to onboard $3 billion in RWAs by the end of 2025, leveraging its 180-country network for tokenization (Stellar.org). Upcoming priorities include expanding partnerships with banks and NGOs, enhancing the Stellar Asset Sandbox for developers, and potentially supporting more central bank digital currency (CBDC) pilots. The AMA may preview these initiatives, offering a glimpse into how Stellar plans to compete with Ethereum and Solana in the RWA space.Onchain DataExact transaction volumes for July 2025 aren’t publicly detailed yet, but Stellar’s network consistently handles 1,000 transactions per second with 5-10 second settlement times (Ainvest.com, June 2025). Fees remain negligible at 0.00001 XLM ($0.00012), supporting its appeal for remittances. Wallet activity spikes around major announcements, and this AMA could trigger another surge—though specific metrics await post-event analysis.Community SentimentX reactions are buzzing. Users like Darius Ellis praise the new leadership’s potential to elevate $XLM, while Sébastien Tanguay highlights da Ponte’s PayPal expertise as a game-changer for adoption (X posts, July 29-30, 2025). Some Reddit users, like bidooffactory, seek clarity on upgrades and partnerships, reflecting cautious optimism. Price speculation ($2 or higher) stirs debate, though tempered by realistic market cap discussions.Additional InsightsStellar’s edge lies in its speed and low costs, outpacing Bitcoin and Ethereum for institutional use. With competitors like Solana gaining traction in CBDC pilots, Stellar’s focus on compliance and inclusion could set it apart. The AMA might also address risks like regulatory hurdles or market volatility—factors to watch. As always, crypto investments carry inherent risks; do your own research before diving in.

This webinar will recap Stellar’s progress in Q2 2025, highlighting growth metrics, strategic initiatives, and a sneak peek at what’s ahead. The focus will likely center on scalability, network participation, and inclusion—core pillars driving Stellar’s adoption. Attendees can submit questions, making it an interactive opportunity to engage with the team. Registration is open now, so mark your calendars and join the conversation to stay ahead of the curve in the evolving crypto space. The event’s significance lies in its potential to boost investor confidence and attract new users, especially as Stellar continues to gain traction in institutional finance.Recent NewsOver the past three months, Stellar has made waves with notable developments. The network saw a Protocol 23 upgrade vote scheduled for August 14, aimed at boosting transaction efficiency on its Soroban smart contract platform. Additionally, Franklin Templeton tokenized $446 million in U.S. Treasuries on Stellar, signaling strong institutional trust. These milestones, combined with a 20% surge in $XLM’s value in July, underscore a bullish trend that could be further amplified by the upcoming report.Future PlansLooking ahead, SDF’s roadmap emphasizes usability and scalability to drive mass adoption. Plans include launching the Freighter mobile app for iOS and Android, simplifying wallet access, and enhancing the Stellar CLI for developers. The updated RPC system will also streamline network data access, setting the stage for broader ecosystem growth. These initiatives suggest Stellar is poised to expand its utility in real-world financial applications, a key factor for long-term success.Onchain DataWhile specific Q2 2025 onchain metrics aren’t yet available, recent data offers a glimpse of Stellar’s momentum. In the last 24 hours, $XLM’s trading volume spiked by nearly 200%, reflecting heightened market activity. Active addresses grew by 13% to over 158,000 in the past week, with transactions rising 16% to 18.5 million. These figures, though not current for Q2, indicate robust network engagement that the report may expand upon.Community SentimentThe X community is buzzing with excitement for this event. Responses range from enthusiastic sign-ups to playful debates about $XLM’s future, with some users joking about quirky token name ideas. Influencers are highlighting the report’s potential to reveal partnership details, fostering a generally positive sentiment. This engagement reflects growing interest in Stellar’s roadmap and its impact on the crypto market.Additional InsightsStellar’s focus on stablecoin integration, with a record $627 million in related value, positions it ahead of competitors in cross-border payments. As the crypto market sees a 5.9% weekly gain, Stellar’s performance outpaces many smart contract platforms, making this report a critical watchpoint. For users, benefits include faster, cheaper transactions, though the market’s volatility warrants caution.Risk Disclaimer: Crypto investments carry risks, including price fluctuations. Conduct your own research before participating.

The Protocol 23 upgrade introduces eight new Core Advancement Proposals, focusing on improving block time performance without disruptive overhauls. This means faster transactions and a more robust network, critical for handling real-world financial use cases. The vote, set for 10 AM PST (17:00 UTC), will determine if these changes go live on Mainnet, following a Testnet reset on August 14, 2025, which cleared all data to prepare for stable builds. Developers must upgrade software like Stellar Core and SDKs to align with these updates, signaling a fresh start for builders. This could attract more projects to Stellar, though users should note potential short-term disruptions during the transition.Recent NewsOver the past three months, Stellar has been busy. The Testnet upgrade launched on July 17, 2025, marking the first phase of Protocol 23 testing. The August 14 Testnet reset, announced recently, underscores the urgency of critical Stellar Core updates. These moves reflect Stellar’s decade-long journey to maturity, with a focus on meeting global economic needs. The network’s recent emphasis on open governance has also seen progress, with plans to expand its tier-1 organizations, strengthening its decentralized structure.Future PlansLooking ahead, Stellar aims to drive mass adoption through scalability and usability enhancements. By the end of 2025, the roadmap includes adding six more tier-1 organizations, bringing the total to 13, to enhance network resilience. Future updates may include gradual block time reductions and continued support for DeFi and smart contracts, positioning Stellar as a go-to platform for enterprise-grade solutions. This long-term vision could solidify its role in the evolving crypto landscape.Onchain DataSpecific onchain metrics like transaction volume or staking activity for Protocol 23 are not yet fully available, as the upgrade is still in the testing phase. However, Stellar’s network has historically processed millions of transactions, with its focus on low-cost payments and asset tokenization driving consistent activity. Once live, Protocol 23’s impact on these metrics will be worth watching, especially as Mainnet adoption grows.Community SentimentThe X community is buzzing with excitement and curiosity. Builders see the reset as a chance to innovate, with some calling it a “golden opportunity” for Web3 development. Others express mild frustration over rebuilding test data, but the overall tone is optimistic, with influencers highlighting Stellar’s potential for real-world scale. The mix of enthusiasm and practical feedback suggests strong community support for this upgrade.Additional InsightsStellar stands out among competitors by balancing enterprise needs with developer accessibility. Its focus on incremental improvements contrasts with more volatile fork-heavy networks, offering stability for users. While the upgrade poses minor risks like temporary downtime, the benefits of enhanced performance outweigh these for most. As always, crypto involves inherent risks, so proceed with caution and do your own research.

Protocol 23, set for a mainnet vote on September 3, 2025, at 17:00 UTC, introduces eight Core Advancement Proposals, including parallel transaction processing for faster confirmations, unified event streams to simplify app development, and optimized Soroban smart contract costs. If validators approve, Whisk will go live, reducing fees and latency while improving scalability. The purpose is to make Stellar faster, more cost-effective, and developer-friendly, supporting its growth as a hub for financial applications. Its significance lies in addressing data fragmentation and boosting throughput, critical for real-world use cases like cross-border payments. Expected impacts include increased developer adoption, higher transaction volumes, and enhanced ecosystem efficiency, benefiting the crypto community by advancing scalable blockchain solutions. Upgrades may cause temporary network adjustments, so developers should update SDKs to avoid disruptions.Recent NewsIn August, Stellar tokenized $446 million in U.S. Treasuries via Franklin Templeton, signaling institutional trust. July saw partnerships with PayPal and MoneyGram, enhancing cross-border payment capabilities and driving a 13% rise in active addresses to 158,329. June marked the testnet launch of Whisk, with successful trials of parallel processing and unified events, aligning with the growing $250 billion stablecoin market and increased DeFi activity on Stellar.Future PlansStellar’s 2025 roadmap targets 5,000 transactions per second, with Protocol 24 (named “X”) set to introduce further smart contract enhancements and cross-chain bridges. Plans include expanding tier-1 validators to bolster decentralization and launching developer grants to spur dApp growth. Goals focus on solidifying Stellar’s role in global finance, supporting CBDCs, and integrating with platforms like NEAR for advanced DeFi use cases, aiming for broader real-world adoption by 2026.Onchain DataStellar processed 18.5 million transactions in Q2 2025, up 16%, with 158,329 active addresses. Stablecoin-related value hit $627 million, driven by institutional tokenization. Detailed staking metrics are unavailable, but validator participation remains robust, supporting network stability.Community SentimentPosts on X show cautious optimism, with users praising Whisk’s potential to streamline development and cut costs. Discussions highlight its impact on projects like Pi Network, built on Stellar’s infrastructure, though some note muted trader interest, with XLM’s open interest flat at $310 million. Influencers see long-term value in Stellar’s real-world integrations, despite short-term price stagnation.Whisk positions Stellar as a leader in scalable, accessible blockchain tech, offering enthusiasts a robust platform for financial innovation.