Stripe, Paradigm Debut Tempo: 100,000 TPS Blockchain for Payments

- Stripe and Paradigm unveil Tempo, a Layer 1 blockchain for stablecoin payments. - New blockchain supports over 100,000 TPS, stablecoin gas fees, and enhanced payment tools. Stripe and Paradigm have officially launched Tempo, a groundbreaking Layer 1 blockchain optimized for large-scale financial applications. With payments at its core, the blockchain is currently in a private testnet phase and aims to disrupt on-chain processes like payment acceptance, remittances, global payouts, and tokenized deposits. On September 4, 2025, *The Block* reported that Tempo, an independent company, received initial investment from Stripe and Paradigm. Stripe CEO Patrick Collison emphasized that Tempo targets real-world applications of stablecoins and blockchain-based payment ecosystems. Tempo's infrastructure builds on Ethereum-compatible foundations, supporting over 100,000 transactions per second with sub-second finality. Through an integrated automated market maker (AMM), users can pay transaction fees in stablecoins, while additional features like dedicated payment lanes, opt-in privacy settings, and enhanced capabilities for memos and access lists create a tailored environment for financial operations. This launch signifies Stripe’s growing footprint in blockchain innovation, as the fintech giant previously acquired Bridge, a stablecoin infrastructure firm, and Privy, a crypto wallet developer. These acquisitions reinforce its commitment to integrating blockchain tools with traditional payment systems. Matt Huang, co-founder of Paradigm and current lead of Tempo, highlighted the initiative’s aim to meet rising demands for faster payments infrastructure. This need arises from stablecoins’ growing presence in mainstream finance. Consequently, Tempo’s architecture is designed to support efficient stablecoin transactions and address existing shortcomings in scalability and cost. Prominent design partners are already on board, including Anthropic, Deutsche Bank, DoorDash, Nubank, OpenAI, Revolut, and Shopify. Further collaborations include Coupang, Lead Bank, Mercury, Standard Chartered, and Visa, underscoring the blockchain’s potential impact across diverse industries.