Stripe, the $92 billion payments giant, has officially unveiled Tempo, a payments-focused Layer 1 blockchain developed with crypto venture firm Paradigm. Unlike most blockchains born from trading or DeFi culture, Tempo is designed from the ground up to move money; fast, cheap, and at scale.

Tempo aims to handle tens of thousands of transactions per second, settling stablecoin payments with predictable, low fees. Stripe CEO Patrick Collison has said existing blockchains weren’t optimized for real-world payments, which pushed Stripe to build a new rail from scratch.

From Stealth to Spotlight

Earlier this summer, Tempo surfaced via a job posting describing it as a “high-performance, payments-focused blockchain.” At the time it was still in stealth with a small team. Now, Stripe and Paradigm have confirmed the project publicly, with Matt Huang; Paradigm co-founder and Stripe board member – serving as Tempo’s CEO.

The network is Ethereum-compatible, easing developer adoption and ensuring interoperability. What started as a five-person stealth unit has grown into a dedicated team backed by enterprise partners.

Building on Stripe’s Crypto Playbook

Tempo is the capstone of Stripe’s broader crypto push. The company acquired Bridge in 2024 for $1.1 billion, gaining stablecoin infrastructure, and in 2025 bought Privy, a wallet developer. Together with Stripe’s global merchant base, these moves created the foundation for a full-stack stablecoin ecosystem: wallets, compliance rails, and now, a blockchain optimized for payments.

Regulatory and Market Tailwinds

The launch comes just weeks after the U.S. passed the GENIUS Act, the first federal stablecoin legislation, which provided much-needed regulatory clarity. Stablecoins are now processing trillions in annual volume, even surpassing Visa and Mastercard’s payment flows in 2024. Stripe is betting Tempo will ride this momentum and become the backbone for global stablecoin settlement.

The Competitive Landscape

Stripe isn’t alone. Apple, Google, Airbnb, Meta, and X are all exploring stablecoin integrations. Visa and Mastercard are piloting stablecoin settlement. What sets Stripe apart is that instead of just plugging into existing rails, it’s building its own — and bringing partners like Shopify, Revolut, and OpenAI along for early adoption.

Key Takeaways for Fintech Startups

• Stablecoins are here to stay: $27 trillion+ in yearly volume shows they’ve gone mainstream.
  
  
• Regulation can unlock innovation: Tempo launched right after the GENIUS Act clarified the rules.
  
  
• Lean teams can scale big bets: Tempo started in stealth with only a handful of people.
  
  
• Partnerships are leverage: Stripe enlisted Paradigm, Visa, and major tech players from the start.
  
  
• Solve real payment pain points: Tempo targets cross-border payouts and microtransactions — practical use cases with immediate value.

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Brex, the San Francisco-based fintech unicorn known for corporate cards and spend management, has secured a Payment Institution (PI) license in the European Union via the Netherlands. Announced in August 2025, the license authorizes Brex to operate across all EU member states, directly issue corporate credit cards, and execute payment transactions such as SEPA direct debits and credit transfers.

For Brex, this milestone is more than paperwork – it removes the U.S.-only limitation that previously restricted onboarding. Now, the company can serve enterprises originated in Europe, not just subsidiaries tied to U.S. entities. The Netherlands was a strategic choice: a fintech-friendly regulator, an English-speaking hub, and passporting rights that let Brex expand across 30 EU/EEA countries with a single license.

Why it matters

The EU PI license, defined under PSD2, enables a wide range of payment services: issuing instruments, remittances, transfers, and more. Crucially, it gives Brex direct access to European rails like SEPA. Customers will benefit from locally issued cards with higher acceptance rates, euro-denominated payments, and fewer intermediaries. As CEO Pedro Franceschi put it, “No third-party intermediaries, no borrowed licenses, and no workarounds required.”

This license also provides regulatory credibility. Meeting EU standards on governance, capital, and compliance is rigorous. For fintechs, that stamp of approval signals resilience and commitment. It’s also a moat – competitors relying on third parties cannot easily match the same autonomy.

Strategic context

Brex’s global roadmap has been clear from the start. Over seven years, it built infrastructure spanning 200+ countries and 60 currencies. Yet until now, it could only onboard firms with U.S. presence. With 1,500 existing customers already operating in the EU – nearly half of whom are multinational – demand was strong. Ooni, the UK-based pizza oven maker, highlighted Brex’s appeal: “It’s one system employees can use regardless of where they are.”

Financially, Europe represents a massive opportunity. Franceschi has pegged the potential at up to $5 billion annually. Legacy providers like Barclays and AmEx dominate, but their solutions are fragmented. Brex aims to win CFOs with integrated cards, expense management, and treasury tools. It has already established an Amsterdam office, hired local staff, and will roll out services in phases through 2026. A UK license is next on the roadmap.

This expansion also comes as Brex prepares for an IPO and moves toward profitability. By doubling down on compliance-heavy expansion, it differentiates itself from U.S. rivals like Ramp, who focus domestically with partner-driven models. Brex is betting that owning infrastructure and licenses will pay off in product quality and long-term margins.

What it unlocks

• Local card issuance: EU corporate cards with domestic BINs, fewer declines, and no foreign quirks.
  
  
• Direct SEPA access: Brex can originate euro transfers and direct debits itself.
  
  
• Full product suite: Expense management, treasury, and spend controls available to EU-based firms.

By controlling the stack, Brex can iterate faster, avoid revenue-sharing, and build features competitors can’t easily replicate.

Lessons for fintech startups

• One license, many countries. EU passporting provides scale, but requires upfront effort.
  
  
• Licenses as moats. Harder to get, but grant autonomy and differentiation.
  
  
• Local compliance = local product. Real SEPA or local cards only come with local licenses.
  
  
• Plan for UK separately. Brexit means two playbooks.
  
  
• Follow customer pull. Expansion works best when existing clients already need you abroad.
  

Brex’s EU license shows how regulatory fluency, infrastructure, and timing can unlock new growth. For startups, it’s a reminder: scaling across borders is as much about compliance as ambition.

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