Stripe-Backed Tempo Blockchain Launches Public Testnet: Stablecoin Payments Get Real-World Trial

Forget the hype—real-world stablecoin utility just got a major corporate-backed proving ground.

### The Corporate Stamp of Approval

Tempo, a blockchain project with heavyweight backing from payments giant Stripe, has thrown open the doors to its public testnet. This isn't another speculative DeFi playground. The focus is laser-targeted: enabling fast, low-cost, cross-border stablecoin payments that could actually challenge legacy rails.

### Cutting Out the Middleman (and the Fees)

The testnet invites developers and businesses to stress-test transactions designed to bypass traditional correspondent banking. Think settlements in seconds for fractions of a cent—a direct jab at the sluggish, fee-laden systems that have let financial institutions skim off the top for decades. The architecture promises to strip out unnecessary complexity, pushing value directly from sender to receiver.

### A Bullish Signal for Crypto's Pragmatic Future

Stripe's involvement is the headline. It signals a growing corporate conviction that blockchain's killer app isn't just price speculation, but tangible payment efficiency. This move validates the infrastructure layer, suggesting that the real money in crypto might not be in trading memecoins, but in quietly dismantling a multi-trillion-dollar payments industry. Because sometimes, the most revolutionary tech just helps you move money without your bank taking a leisurely, expensive detour.

TLDR

• Stripe and Paradigm’s blockchain Tempo launched its public testnet on Tuesday, allowing anyone to run nodes and test features
• The testnet includes six core features: dedicated payment lanes, stablecoin-native gas, built-in DEX, payment metadata, fast finality, and modern wallet signing
• Tempo raised $500 million in October at a $5 billion valuation, with investors including Sequoia Capital and Thrive Capital
• New design partners announced include Mastercard, UBS, Kalshi, and Klarna, joining earlier partners like OpenAI and Deutsche Bank
• Klarna launched KlarnaUSD stablecoin on Tempo last month, set for mainnet deployment in 2026

Tempo blockchain launched its public testnet on Tuesday. The project is a joint effort between payments company Stripe and crypto venture capital firm Paradigm.

Stripe and crypto venture firm Paradigm have launched a public trial for their joint blockchain project, Tempo, opening the network to any company interested in building real-world stablecoin payments applications https://t.co/EfYEqKvEYc

— Bloomberg (@business) December 9, 2025

The testnet allows anyone to run a node or sync the chain. Users can now test the platform’s payment-focused features before the mainnet launch.

The @tempo public testnet is live!https://t.co/cVSeWeN32g

— Patrick Collison (@patrickc) December 9, 2025

The blockchain aims to solve problems that general-purpose blockchains face with payments. Tempo focuses on instant settlement, low fees, and stablecoin integration.

Six Core Features Now Live

The public testnet includes dedicated payment lanes for transaction processing. It also features stablecoin-native gas, meaning users can pay fees with stablecoins instead of native tokens.

A built-in decentralized exchange for stable assets is available on the network. The platform supports payment and transfer metadata for detailed transaction information.

Fast deterministic finality ensures quick transaction confirmation. Modern wallet signing methods are integrated into the system.

Paradigm’s chief technology officer Georgios Konstantopoulos demonstrated a feature that lets users create stablecoins from their browsers. These tokens use Tempo’s TIP-20 token standard.

Growing Partnership Base

Tempo first appeared in September when Stripe and Paradigm announced the project. The blockchain raised $500 million in October at a $5 billion valuation.

Thrive Capital and Greenoaks led the Series A funding round. Other investors included Sequoia Capital, Ribbit Capital, and SV Angel.

The project started with design partners including OpenAI, Deutsche Bank, Standard Chartered, and Shopify. Tuesday’s announcement added Mastercard, UBS, Kalshi, and Klarna to the partner list.

Klarna launched KlarnaUSD last month on Tempo. The USD-backed stablecoin marks the first digital bank issuance on the network.

KlarnaUSD plans to launch on Tempo’s mainnet in 2026. The buy-now-pay-later company holds an EU banking license.

Tempo is built as an Ethereum-compatible LAYER 1 blockchain. The design optimizes for high-throughput payments and settlement operations.

The platform works with additional companies including Visa and Anthropic. Tempo combines Stripe’s payment expertise with Paradigm’s crypto knowledge.

The testnet documentation does not specify liquidity or collateral requirements for the mainnet launch. The team plans to onboard new infrastructure partners and add developer tools in coming months.