A newly published report from Forbes reveals that fintech heavyweight Stripe is quietly crafting a payments-driven blockchain dubbed “Tempo” in collaboration with cryptocurrency venture capital firm Paradigm, according to a job listing and people with knowledge of the project.
Project Details and Team
The Aug. 3 posting, shared through the Blockchain Association, described Tempo as a “high-performance, payments-focused blockchain” currently operating under the radar with a small, five-person crew. Notably, Paradigm’s co-founder and managing partner Matt Huang also sits on Stripe’s board. Sources familiar with Tempo, who spoke to Forbes on condition of anonymity due to the private nature of the work, revealed it is a layer one (L1) blockchain—built from the ground up rather than on existing frameworks—and will be compatible with Ethereum’s coding language. Representatives for Stripe and Paradigm had no comment when reached.
Broader Industry Trend
The development mirrors a broader trend in which major crypto players, including Binance, Coinbase, and Kraken, have launched their own chains. Recently, Robinhood disclosed it is working on a layer two (L2) blockchain, with industry chatter hinting at a debut later this year or in early 2026, though no firm date has been announced. Stripe’s move signals that payment-focused blockchains are becoming a key battleground for fintech integration.
Stripe's Crypto Acquisitions and Strategy
Stripe has been on a buying streak in the crypto space. The company acquired crypto wallet infrastructure provider Privy in June, snapped up stablecoin infrastructure firm Bridge for $1.1 billion back in October 2024, and in April 2025 talked about plans for a stablecoin product. Taken together—its acquisitions, CEO Patrick Collison’s stablecoin disclosure, and details from Forbes’ insider sources—Stripe appears to be laying the groundwork for a comprehensive crypto-native payments ecosystem. The Tempo blockchain could serve as the settlement layer for stablecoin transactions, leveraging Stripe’s existing merchant network to drive adoption.
Implications for Crypto Payments
If Tempo is successfully launched, it could lower transaction costs and latency for crypto payments while maintaining compatibility with Ethereum’s vast developer ecosystem. By building its own L1 chain, Stripe aims to control the full stack of payment infrastructure, potentially offering faster and cheaper cross-border settlements. This could challenge existing payment blockchains like Solana or Celo, and could further accelerate the integration of stablecoins into mainstream e-commerce.