Tempo, the new layer-1 blockchain developed by Stripe and Paradigm, has launched its public testnet. This release allows developers to run nodes, test stablecoin functionalities, and explore the network’s core tools designed for fast and low-cost payments.
Tempo Opens Public Testnet with Stablecoin-Focused Features
Tempo, the blockchain developed by Stripe and Paradigm, has released its first public testnet. The network is now open for anyone to run a node, sync the chain, and test Tempo’s core payment features. According to the announcement, this launch marks the beginning of the next phase of Tempo’s development, with the team now focusing on scale, reliability, and integration. Over the coming months, Tempo plans to onboard more infrastructure partners, expand developer tooling, and stress-test throughput under real payment conditions.
The testnet currently includes several key features specifically designed for financial applications. These features encompass dedicated payment lanes, stablecoin native gas fees, a built-in decentralized exchange for stable assets, payment and transfer metadata, fast deterministic finality, and modern wallet signing methods. Tempo highlights that many general-purpose blockchains still face challenges in providing predictable fees and instant settlement for real-world payments.
In an X post, Paradigm CTO Georgios Konstantopoulos showcased a testnet feature that enables users to create stablecoins directly within their browsers. These assets utilize the TIP-20 token standard. Liquidity and collateral requirements for the mainnet version have not yet been published.
Users can now create TIP-20 stablecoins directly in their browser.
This is a huge step towards making stablecoins more accessible and easier to use for payments. #Tempo#blockchain#stablecoins
— Georgios Konstantopoulos (@gakonst) June 20, 2024
Major Financial Partners Join Tempo as Momentum Grows
The public testnet launch follows a period of strong build-up. Tempo was announced four months ago and subsequently raised 500 million dollars at a 5-billion-dollar valuation. Early design partners included OpenAI, Deutsche Bank, Standard Chartered, and Shopify. Tempo has since expanded its roster of major partners, with the latest group including Mastercard, UBS, Kalshi, and Klarna. Last month, Klarna became the first digital bank to issue a USD-pegged stablecoin on Tempo, indicating growing interest in stablecoin payments across the financial sector.
What Tempo’s Public Testnet Means for the Future of Blockchain Payments
Tempo is positioning itself as a layer-1 chain specifically built for payments, with a core focus on stablecoins, predictable fees, and instant finality. These attributes are becoming increasingly critical as companies explore and experiment with blockchain-based settlement systems.
Ultimately, the public testnet will now demonstrate Tempo's performance under real-world usage conditions. Developer feedback, stress tests, and institutional integrations will collectively shape the path toward the mainnet launch. With Stripe and major financial institutions backing the project, Tempo enters the market with significant early momentum.