📅 October 17 | San Francisco, USA
In a move that shakes up the fintech ecosystem, Stripe, one of the global digital payments giants, has just backed Tempo, a new startup focused on crypto infrastructure and global digital payments, which raised $500 million in a Series A led by Thrive Capital. According to The Block, it marks one of the largest investment rounds of the year and positions Tempo as the next big player at the intersection of blockchain and traditional finance.
📖 Founded by former Stripe executives, Tempo seeks to create an ultra-fast payment system that combines the efficiency of stablecoins with the stability of fiat money, allowing merchants, banks, and users to carry out international transactions almost instantly and with minimal fees. The project promises an “invisible” user experience, where transactions are settled in the background on blockchain networks like Solana and Base.
The round was led by Thrive Capital, the same fund that launched OpenAI and Nubank, with participation from Sequoia, a16z, and Founders Fund, in addition to prominent executives from the traditional financial sector. According to sources familiar with the matter, Tempo's goal is to bridge the gap between the global banking system and the crypto economy, something Stripe partially attempted years ago with its Web3 payment tools.
Speaking to The Block, a Tempo spokesperson noted:
“We believe global payments should be as simple as sending a text message. Blockchain shouldn't be felt, it should work.”
With this vision, Tempo plans to launch its commercial payments network in 2026, starting in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, regions where access to international digital payments remains limited.
Meanwhile, Stripe, which maintains a minority stake in the company, may be preparing its triumphant return to the crypto space, after pausing its Bitcoin operations in 2018. This time, however, the terrain is much more mature, and institutional demand is on the rise.
Topic Opinion:
I think Tempo represents the vision Stripe always wanted to achieve: a global, fast, and frictionless infrastructure, powered by blockchain but focused on user experience. The exciting thing is that it's no longer "crypto for experts," but rather accessible universal payments. If they deliver on their promise, they could redefine the way the world pays and gets paid, without the user even knowing there's a blockchain behind it.
💬 Do you think Tempo will achieve what Ripple, Stellar, or Circle haven't yet?
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