#Protocol26

Stellar strengthens payments network with Protocol 26 and $3B in tokenized RWAs

The Stellar network experienced significant growth in Q2 2026, with tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) doubling to $3.05 billion. This 100% quarterly increase significantly outpaced the broader RWA market, which grew at roughly one-fourth of that rate. The surge is largely attributed to the May 6 activation of Protocol 26, known as "Yardstick," which introduced critical features for institutional finance. Specifically, the upgrade added a governed on-chain freeze mechanism for regulatory compliance and improved 256-bit arithmetic for precise financial settlements. Diverse issuers, including Centrifuge for private credit and Matrixdock for gold, are driving this activity alongside various US Treasury tokenization projects. Furthermore, the network achieved an all-time high of $11.4 billion in stablecoin transfers while maintaining 4.9 million daily transactions. The integration of institutional-grade features has also attracted interest from the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC). This performance positions Stellar as a competitive venue for regulated finance, challenging other major blockchains in the RWA sector.

cryptobriefing.com·2h ago