Stripe and Paradigm’s payments-focused blockchain Tempo launches public testnet

Tempo, a payments-focused blockchain protocol valued at approximately $5 billion, has launched its public testnet. Built as an Ethereum-compatible Layer 1, Tempo is optimized for high-throughput payments and aims to deliver instant settlement, predictably low fees, and a stablecoin-native experience, which general-purpose blockchains often struggle to provide for financial applications. The protocol was incubated by Stripe and Paradigm, and it reportedly raised $500 million in a Series A round led by Thrive Capital and Greenoaks. Tempo is working with major firms like OpenAI, Shopify, Visa, Anthropic, and Deutsche Bank. Furthermore, Klarna recently launched KlarnaUSD, a USD-backed stablecoin issued on Tempo, which is scheduled to launch on the mainnet in 2026.

(Source：The Block)