Stripe and Paradigm Reportedly Working on a New Blockchain Called Tempo

Stripe — the global financial technology giant best known for its online payment infrastructure — is reportedly developing a brand-new blockchain network called Tempo, with a design focus on payment processing. The project is said to be a collaborative effort with Paradigm, a major venture capital firm specializing in cryptocurrency investments.

This information surfaced not through a corporate press release, but via a job posting on the Blockchain Association’s website. However, since neither Stripe nor Paradigm has formally confirmed the initiative, the information is still presented in conditional terms.

Key Takeaways from the Report:

• Stripe is suspected of developing a new blockchain, Tempo, specifically optimized for payments, in partnership with Paradigm.
• Tempo would be a Layer 1 blockchain — meaning it runs on its own base protocol rather than being built on an existing chain — and would aim to deliver ultra-fast, low-cost transactions using stablecoins.

A Blockchain Purpose-Built for Payments

According to the now-removed job listing, Tempo is a Layer 1 blockchain. This means it is an independent foundational network, not a sidechain or an application built atop another protocol. Furthermore, it would be compatible with Ethereum’s programming language (Solidity), suggesting it would support Ethereum-style smart contracts while potentially benefiting from a familiar developer ecosystem.

The project is still in its early development phase and is reportedly being built by a small, dedicated team of just five people.

The core design goal of Tempo appears to be high performance: enabling fast transaction speeds and minimal fees, specifically in the context of payments. A central part of the system’s architecture would be the use of stablecoins — cryptocurrencies whose value is pegged to traditional fiat currencies such as the U.S. dollar. Stablecoins have been gaining traction among both businesses and individual consumers for facilitating near-instant, low-cost cross-border transactions without the volatility of traditional cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum.

Stripe’s recent acquisition history reinforces this payment–stablecoin focus. In October 2024, the company announced it had acquired Bridge, a platform enabling businesses to issue and integrate stablecoins into their operations. Then, in June 2025, Stripe purchased Privy, a developer specializing in digital wallets for crypto assets. These moves suggest a deliberate effort to expand Stripe’s capabilities in the digital currency space.

Stripe Builds a Broader Cryptocurrency Strategy

If Tempo moves forward, Stripe could gain tighter control over the core infrastructure underpinning stablecoin payments. Such control would allow the company to offer merchants and clients a turnkey, vertically integrated solution — from the blockchain network itself to the wallets and payment interfaces that operate on it.

Stripe, currently valued at nearly $92 billion, is already a dominant player in online payments, serving millions of merchants and customers worldwide. By creating its own blockchain, it could further differentiate itself from competitors while positioning itself as a leader in blockchain-based financial services.

Neither Stripe nor Paradigm has commented publicly on Tempo. When Fortune reached out to Stripe for details, the job listing was swiftly removed from the Blockchain Association’s site. Paradigm — a long-standing investor in Stripe — has remained silent as well.

Stripe’s interest in cryptocurrency is not new. In 2014, the company became one of the first major payment processors to accept Bitcoin. However, it withdrew Bitcoin support in 2018 due to high transaction fees and significant price volatility, which made it impractical for everyday payments. Since then, Stripe has continued to explore digital assets, including launching an investment fund dedicated to startups in the crypto sector.

Stripe’s Move Part of a Larger Industry Shift

The Tempo project aligns with a broader trend: large technology and financial firms are increasingly adopting cryptocurrency to enhance their payment services. In recent years, companies such as Facebook (via its now-defunct Diem project), Apple, Google, and PayPal have all launched or announced crypto-related initiatives.

For these companies, blockchain and digital currency are no longer fringe experiments — they are becoming strategic priorities to remain competitive in a marketplace where consumer demand for faster, cheaper, and more flexible payment options is growing rapidly.

If Tempo launches successfully, it could represent Stripe’s bid to shape the next generation of payment infrastructure, potentially positioning it as both a direct competitor to other blockchain networks and a leading facilitator of stablecoin-based commerce worldwide.

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(Featured image by Haeb (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia Commons)

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