What is Tempo blockchain by Stripe?

Tempo blockchain is a network built specifically for stablecoin payments, incubated by Stripe and the crypto investment firm Paradigm. Its site describes it as purpose-built for global payments, stablecoin accounts and institutional settlement. Its mainnet launched on March 18, 2026.

What is Tempo crypto, and is there a Tempo token?

Tempo is a layer 1 blockchain, meaning it runs its own network rather than sitting on top of another chain. The Block describes it as Ethereum-compatible and aimed at high-volume payments and stablecoin settlement, particularly among large institutions.

There is no Tempo coin. The docs say Tempo has no native token, which is unusual for a layer 1. Fees are paid in stablecoins instead, and the sender chooses which one.

How does the Tempo stablecoin chain handle fees?

To pay fees, a stablecoin must be dollar-denominated, issued in Tempo's native TIP-20 token format and have enough liquidity in a built-in exchange called the Fee AMM, which converts between fee tokens. The base fee rises when blocks are busy and falls when they are quiet, within set limits. For a basic transfer, the docs put the cap at about $0.0006 and the quiet-period floor at about $0.00003. All fees go to the validator that proposes the block, and apps or other accounts can pay fees on a user's behalf.

What is Stripe Tempo's role, and who runs the network?

Stripe and Paradigm incubated Tempo, which The Block says was unveiled in September 2025 and ran on a private testnet that month. A public testnet followed in December 2025, and CoinDesk reported that Mastercard, UBS, Klarna and Visa experimented with payments on it. Tempo's homepage quotes Stripe chief executive Patrick Collison saying it is now Stripe's default blockchain for new features.

Tempo is also a separate company. The Block reported in October 2025, citing Fortune, that it raised $500 million in a Series A round led by Thrive Capital and Greenoaks at a valuation of about $5 billion, and that Stripe and Paradigm did not take part.

The network started with a small group of operators. In April 2026 The Block reported that Visa, Stripe and Zodia Custody, which is backed by Standard Chartered, had joined as early validators.

What launched with Tempo mainnet?

The mainnet arrived with the Machine Payments Protocol, or MPP, co-developed with Stripe. CoinDesk said it lets software such as AI agents pay for things like data or computing power without a person approving each step. It addresses a similar need to x402, another standard for machine payments.

Card networks have also listed Tempo among the chains they support for moving funds between institutions, as described in what is stablecoin settlement. Circle's competing payments chain is covered in what is Arc blockchain.