Stripe-Backed Tempo Blockchain Opens Public Testnet for Stablecoin Payments

TLDR

• Stripe and Paradigm’s blockchain Tempo launched its public testnet on Tuesday, allowing anyone to run nodes and test features
• The testnet includes six core features: dedicated payment lanes, stablecoin-native gas, built-in DEX, payment metadata, fast finality, and modern wallet signing
• Tempo raised $500 million in October at a $5 billion valuation, with investors including Sequoia Capital and Thrive Capital
• New design partners announced include Mastercard, UBS, Kalshi, and Klarna, joining earlier partners like OpenAI and Deutsche Bank
• Klarna launched KlarnaUSD stablecoin on Tempo last month, set for mainnet deployment in 2026

Tempo blockchain launched its public testnet on Tuesday. The project is a joint effort between payments company Stripe and crypto venture capital firm Paradigm.

The testnet allows anyone to run a node or sync the chain. Users can now test the platform’s payment-focused features before the mainnet launch.

The blockchain aims to solve problems that general-purpose blockchains face with payments. Tempo focuses on instant settlement, low fees, and stablecoin integration.

Six Core Features Now Live

The public testnet includes dedicated payment lanes for transaction processing. It also features stablecoin-native gas, meaning users can pay fees with stablecoins instead of native tokens.

A built-in decentralized exchange for stable assets is available on the network. The platform supports payment and transfer metadata for detailed transaction information.

Fast deterministic finality ensures quick transaction confirmation. Modern wallet signing methods are integrated into the system.

Paradigm’s chief technology officer Georgios Konstantopoulos demonstrated a feature that lets users create stablecoins from their browsers. These tokens use Tempo’s TIP-20 token standard.

Growing Partnership Base

Tempo first appeared in September when Stripe and Paradigm announced the project. The blockchain raised $500 million in October at a $5 billion valuation.

Thrive Capital and Greenoaks led the Series A funding round. Other investors included Sequoia Capital, Ribbit Capital, and SV Angel.

The project started with design partners including OpenAI, Deutsche Bank, Standard Chartered, and Shopify. Tuesday’s announcement added Mastercard, UBS, Kalshi, and Klarna to the partner list.

Klarna launched KlarnaUSD last month on Tempo. The USD-backed stablecoin marks the first digital bank issuance on the network.

KlarnaUSD plans to launch on Tempo’s mainnet in 2026. The buy-now-pay-later company holds an EU banking license.

Tempo is built as an Ethereum-compatible Layer 1 blockchain. The design optimizes for high-throughput payments and settlement operations.

The platform works with additional companies including Visa and Anthropic. Tempo combines Stripe’s payment expertise with Paradigm’s crypto knowledge.

The testnet documentation does not specify liquidity or collateral requirements for the mainnet launch. The team plans to onboard new infrastructure partners and add developer tools in coming months.

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