In the world of blockchain, some events are more than just conferences—they are pivotal moments that define an ecosystem’s trajectory for years to come. For the Stellar network, that event is Meridian.

As the annual flagship conference of the Stellar Development Foundation (SDF), Meridian serves as a critical platform for unveiling major announcements, forging strategic partnerships, and showcasing cutting-edge advancements that shape the future of finance.

Following a year of explosive growth and technological leaps, Meridian 2025—held September 17–18 at the iconic Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil—proved to be the most significant and unmissable gathering in Stellar’s history, drawing hundreds of attendees for two days of collaboration under the theme “The Blueprint.”

Meridian: Stellar’s Annual Beacon of Innovation

Meridian is where the vision for Stellar’s future is articulated, where the community gathers, and where groundbreaking milestones are revealed.

It’s a confluence of the brightest minds in the ecosystem—developers, entrepreneurs, institutional leaders, and policymakers—all coming together to collaborate and chart the course forward.

Hoopy, Hoops Finance’s Mascot, enjoying Meridian 2025!

The Q1 2025 SDF report explicitly states that major events, including Meridian 2025 in September, are a core part of the strategy to “continue its momentum,” signaling its central role in the year’s most important initiatives.

This year’s event lived up to that promise, with live streams, hackathons, and sessions tackling blockchain’s urgent questions—from scalability to real-world asset (RWA) tokenization.

The Impact and Scale of Meridian: A Proven Track Record

To understand the importance of Meridian 2025, one only needs to look at the monumental impact of previous years.

Meridian 2024 in London was a testament to the event’s scale and influence:

  • A Truly Global Gathering: Nearly 700 attendees from 63 countries, representing over 300 companies, solidifying its status as a premier international blockchain event.

  • A Launchpad for Major Products: Tala unveiled its new non-custodial crypto wallet, while MoneyGram announced its own wallet built directly on Stellar.

  • The Epicenter of Strategic Partnerships:

    • Stripe announced crypto payouts on Stellar.

    • Mastercard revealed its Crypto Credential integration.

    • Paxos integrated its regulated stablecoins.

    • Blockaid brought its security tech into the Stellar wallet ecosystem.

  • Critical Ecosystem Integrations: Analytics giant Dune fully integrated with Stellar, a massive step for transparency.

  • Driving Financial & Cultural Inclusion: Idris Elba debuted the Akuna Wallet with Chipper Cash and the Republic of Ghana to empower African creators.

Meridian 2025: What Made It Unmissable

Building on this powerful legacy, Meridian 2025 delivered even greater impact, serving as the central venue for insights into Stellar’s strategic roadmap for scaling from “1 to 10,” with a deep focus on everyday financial services, trustworthy technology stacks, and emerging markets like Latin America and Asia.

The event came on the heels of Protocol 23 (Soroban 2.0), enhancing scalability for cross-border payments and smart contracts.

Attendees experienced a mix of keynotes, networking, and cultural highlights—including a Brazilian Carnaval party and hikes to Christ the Redeemer—fostering real connections amid the innovation.

Key Highlights

  • Major Soroban Announcements:

    • Deep dives into Stellar’s smart contract advancements.

    • Launch of Meridian Pay, the first production-ready smart wallet built by SDF and Cheesecake Labs, showcasing seamless on-chain user experiences.

  • New RWA Initiatives:

    • Over $3 billion in RWAs announced on Stellar from issuers like PayPal, Ondo Finance, Mercado Bitcoin, Centrifuge, and RedSwan Digital.

    • RedSwan alone unveiled $100 million in tokenized real estate.

    • Centrifuge highlighted new integrations for tokenized funds, bonds, and real estate.

  • Stablecoin and Partnership Breakthroughs:

    • PayPal’s PYUSD stablecoin went live on Stellar, a game-changer for global access.

    • Partnerships with Onigiri Capital (LATAM & Asia) and local projects like Vesso, Digibank, and Plexos focused on stablecoin adoption in emerging markets.

  • Hackathon and Community Wins:

    • Hack Meridian (Sept 15–16) showcased builders supported by NearX School, with tools for DeFi, risk analytics, and more.

    • Ecosystem Passport by Tellus Cooperative and Stellar Light took the entire conference by sharing the best projects and giving participants exclusive rewards

    • NFT POAPs by artists like Brainfrog celebrated creativity, alongside sessions on equitable blockchain access.

  • Policy and Scalability Insights:

    • Leaders from BNDES, UNDP, and Rio’s mayor discussed regulatory frameworks.

    • SDF’s David Mazières emphasized “Scalability, not Scarcity” for long-term equitable access.

  • Networking at Scale:

    • Unparalleled access to SDF’s core team, top project founders, and institutions like Visa, PwC, and Nubank.

Finally, the event closed with a teaser: Meridian 2026 will be held in Abu Dhabi, UAE, marking the next chapter in global expansion.

Conclusion

Meridian 2025 was not just another crypto conference; it was a pivotal, ecosystem-defining moment shaping the future of decentralized finance and global payments.

By bringing together a diverse global community and serving as the launchpad for Stellar’s most significant initiatives—like massive RWA integrations and stablecoin advancements—it solidified the network’s position as a leader in real-world blockchain solutions.

For anyone invested in the future of crypto, finance, and Stellar, Meridian 2025 delivered unparalleled opportunities for insight, connection, and engagement with the cutting edge of financial innovation—setting the stage for even greater momentum in the years ahead.

The future of Stellar will be on full display at Meridian, and the team from Hoops Finance will be there. We are committed to building the essential infrastructure for this vibrant ecosystem. We invite you to connect with us at the event to discuss how our powerful APIs and smart contracts can help you build the future. Learn more about our mission at hoops.finance.

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