Tempo, the payments-focused blockchain developed by payments giant Stripe and cryptocurrency investment firm Paradigm, launched its mainnet on Wednesday, bringing its stablecoin payment system out of testing and into use.
The network is designed to process large volumes of transactions quickly and at low cost. It aims to make sending money using stablecoins (digital tokens pegged to currencies such as the U.S. dollar) as easy as using a card or bank transfer, but faster and always available.
The launch follows the launch of a public testnet in December, when companies including Mastercard, UBS, Klarna and Visa began experimenting with sending payments on the network. This phase allows developers to test how the stablecoin handles everyday financial activities, such as payments and cross-border transfers.
Along with the mainnet launch, Tempo also launched the Machine Payment Protocol, a system co-developed with Stripe that allows software programs to pay themselves. This allows applications or artificial intelligence (AI) tools to pay for services such as data or computing power without human approval at every step.
Tempo is also targeting more familiar uses, such as sending money across borders or making one-time payments to large groups of workers. These processes often take several days and involve multiple intermediaries.
The launch comes as global payment processing companies increasingly view blockchain rails and stablecoins as a key part of cross-border finance. Mastercard said this week that it would acquire stablecoin infrastructure startup BVNK for $1.8 billion to embed digital dollars into its payment network. Previously, Stripe acquired stablecoin startup Bridge and crypto wallet company Privy.
Tempo also seeks to establish a foothold in agent finance, an emerging trend in which artificial intelligence agents use blockchain to pay for certain services that require micropayments.
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