Stellar AMA with New Leadership

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 News

SDF 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 Plans

SDF 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 Data

Exact 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 Sentiment

X 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 Insights

Stellar’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.