Payment giant <strong>Stripe</strong> may be launching its own L1 blockchain. What changes will this bring to the market?

动区动趋 BlockTempo

2025-07-08 11:26

Read this article in 8 Minutes

Stripe's positioning in the blockchain field has been quite active, including the acquisition of the stablecoin infrastructure company Bridge, the launch of stablecoin financial account services, and the acquisition of the Web3 wallet infrastructure company Privy.

Original Title: "Payment Giant Stripe Rumored to Launch L1 Blockchain – What Would It Mean?"

Original Source: BlockTempo

Market rumors circulated yesterday (7th) that global online payment giant Stripe is set to launch its own L1 blockchain, sparking high attention from the industry and cryptocurrency community. Expert analysis suggests that if this rumor proves true, it could reshape the landscape of the payment industry, bringing a new financial experience to global merchants and consumers.

Could Stripe Possibly Launch an L1 Blockchain?

According to a post by X platform user @100y_eth on July 7th, although Stripe has not officially confirmed this news, the mere rumor has been enough to ignite community discussions. The post points out that the credibility of Stripe launching an L1 blockchain is not groundless, citing reasons such as:

· The increasing interest of the traditional US financial sector in the blockchain and stablecoin industry, with card organizations like Visa and Mastercard actively integrating blockchain technology, and Robinhood recently announcing the tokenization of stocks through the Arbitrum blockchain. These trends provide a reasonable background for Stripe's entry into the L1 blockchain space.

· Furthermore, in fact, Stripe's presence in the blockchain field has been quite active. In February 2025, Stripe acquired the stablecoin infrastructure company Bridge for about $1.1 billion; subsequently, in May 2025, Stripe launched stablecoin financial accounts at its annual Sessions event, covering 101 countries globally, supporting merchants to hold USDC issued by Circle and USDB issued by Bridge, and facilitating deposits and withdrawals through traditional banking systems (ACH, SEPA) and multiple blockchain networks.

· Additionally, in June, Stripe also acquired the Web3 wallet infrastructure company Privy, further enhancing its technological capabilities in the cryptocurrency ecosystem.

These actions indicate that Stripe may have laid the groundwork for a potential blockchain network deployment, so the rumor of launching an L1 is not unfounded.

What Changes Would Stripe's L1 Bring?

Although the news about Stripe launching an L1 is currently just a rumor and has not been officially confirmed, @100y_eth's post points out that as the world's most renowned Payment Service Provider (PSP), Stripe plays a key role as a technological bridge connecting merchants, acquirers, card organizations, and issuing banks. Currently, its core services include:

· Multiple Payment Methods: Integration of credit cards, digital wallets, bank transfers, and local payment methods.

· Fraud Detection and Security: Utilization of machine learning technology and PCI-DSS standards to prevent fraud.

· Multi-Currency Support: Provision of automatic currency conversion to facilitate international transactions.

· Reporting and Analysis: Provision of transaction history and customer behavior insights to help merchants optimize operations.

· Technical and Operational Support: Simplification of payment system implementation through APIs and SDKs, handling compliance, refunds, and other transactions.

· Enhanced Customer Experience: Support for subscription billing, installment payments, and other flexible payment scenarios.

· Merchant Settlement: Collaboration with acquiring institutions or self-settlement to transfer funds to merchants.

If Stripe were to introduce Level 1 (L1) blockchain, the potential application scenarios and innovative services it could bring about include:

1. Base Scenario

· Stablecoin Financial Account Integration: Currently offering stablecoin financial accounts in 101 countries, Stripe supports the deposit and withdrawal of USDC and USDB. With the introduction of L1, it is expected that merchants could use Stripe L1 for stablecoin transactions and engage in various financial activities.

· Stablecoin Settlement Options: Merchants could opt for settlement in US dollar stablecoins, which would be highly appealing to businesses with high demand for USD but limited access.

· Customer Wallet Services: Through the acquisition of Privy infrastructure, Stripe L1 may enable individual users to easily create Web3 wallets, use stablecoins for payments, and participate in financial activities within the ecosystem.

· Stablecoin Payment Options: Customers could connect their Web3 wallets, choose stablecoins as an online payment method, breaking free from the constraints of existing credit cards and bank accounts.

2. Optimistic Scenario

· Direct Payments: Stripe L1 could allow customers to directly pay merchants with stablecoins, bypassing issuing banks and card networks, reducing costs, and accelerating settlements.

· Micro Payment Subscription Services: With blockchain support for micropayments and streaming subscriptions, Stripe L1 could enable subscription models billed by the minute, automatically executed through smart contracts, opening up new service possibilities for users and merchants.

· DeFi Applications: As payment systems may delay settlements due to fraud or refund needs, Stripe L1 could use short-term deposits as a liquidity pool, deploying funds into DeFi protocols, lending markets, or bond investments, significantly enhancing fund efficiency.

It appears that while the rumors of Stripe launching an L1 blockchain are unconfirmed, its recent active involvement in the stablecoin and blockchain space has brought significant attention to this possibility. If the rumors turn out to be true, a Stripe L1 could not only enhance payment efficiency but also disrupt traditional financial roles, reshaping the global payment ecosystem.