Stripe unveils Tempo blockchain for stablecoin payments

September 8, 2025 • FinTech News

Stripe has partnered with crypto investment firm Paradigm to introduce Tempo, a new blockchain platform designed specifically for stablecoin payments. Initially developed within Stripe, Tempo has now become an independent company. The platform is built as a payments-focused Layer 1 blockchain, optimized for large-scale financial services in the real world.

Stripe CEO Patrick Collison described the project as an effort to bring stablecoins into mainstream financial use. He highlighted several potential applications including payment processing, global money transfers, small transactions, tokenized deposits, and automated payments. With its payment-first design, Tempo aims to serve both consumer and institutional markets that require reliable and efficient services.

Strong Industry Support and Leadership

Early investors Stripe and Paradigm have attracted an impressive group of design partners. These include Anthropic, Coupang, Deutsche Bank, DoorDash, Lead Bank, and Mercury. Also participating are Nubank, OpenAI, Revolut, Shopify, Standard Chartered, and Visa. This strong lineup shows Tempo’s potential to connect both traditional Web2 and newer Web3 ecosystems.

Paradigm co-founder and Stripe board member Mall Huang has taken leadership of Tempo. Huang emphasized that as stablecoins become more common in mainstream finance, infrastructure must advance to meet their needs. “Tempo is purpose-built for stablecoins and real-world payments,” he stated. “It combines Stripe’s global payments experience with Paradigm’s crypto expertise.”

Future Features and Potential Impact

Tempo’s development plan includes predictably low fees, optional privacy features, and payment-focused user experience. The platform also aims to enable scalable global payments, affordable money transfers, tokenized deposits, and microtransactions. If successful, Tempo could transform how businesses and consumers use stablecoins. It may enable faster, cheaper, and more accessible cross-border financial activity.

With Stripe’s payment systems and Paradigm’s crypto knowledge, Tempo is positioning itself as a potential leader in blockchain-based financial services. The platform aims to bridge the gap between traditional finance and decentralized payment networks. This partnership represents a significant step toward integrating cryptocurrency solutions into everyday financial transactions while maintaining the reliability and security that users expect from established financial services. The project’s success could potentially influence how other major companies approach blockchain technology and digital currency integration in their own services.