DoorDash is stepping deeper into digital finance through a new partnership with Tempo, aiming to introduce stablecoin payments across its global network of drivers and merchants.

The move reflects a broader shift among large corporations toward blockchain-based payment systems, as stablecoins gain traction in real-world financial operations.

Bringing Stablecoins to Gig Economy Payments

The collaboration will allow DoorDash to explore paying drivers and settling merchant transactions using stablecoins, potentially reducing costs and improving payment speed compared to traditional banking rails.

Tempo, a layer-1 blockchain backed by major players like Stripe and Paradigm, will provide the infrastructure needed to process these transactions. The company is positioning itself as a core platform for enterprise-grade blockchain payments.

By integrating stablecoins, DoorDash could streamline cross-border payments and offer near-instant settlements, which is an important advantage for gig workers who often rely on fast access to earnings.

Tempo Expands Its Enterprise Push

Alongside the partnership, Tempo has launched a stablecoin advisory service aimed at helping corporations and financial institutions adopt blockchain-based payment solutions. The service focuses on identifying use cases, integrating infrastructure and ensuring regulatory compliance.

Tempo has rapidly built a network of partners, including Visa, Fifth Third Bank and Howard Hughes Holdings, signaling strong institutional interest in its platform.

The company raised $500 million at a $5 billion valuation in late 2025 and officially launched its blockchain in early 2026. Its strategy centers on bringing traditional payment flows onto blockchain rails while maintaining enterprise-level reliability and compliance.

Stablecoins Gain Traction in Global Commerce

The DoorDash partnership comes at a time when stablecoins are experiencing rapid growth in both usage and market size. Transaction volumes reached an estimated $33 trillion in 2025, driven largely by business-to-business payments.

As of April 2026, the total stablecoin market capitalization has climbed to roughly $315 billion, fueled by increased institutional adoption and clearer regulatory frameworks.

Major technology firms such as Meta, X, and Google have also explored integrating stablecoins into their ecosystems, further validating the technology’s potential.

Regulation Encourages Corporate Adoption

A key driver behind this surge is improved regulatory clarity, particularly in the United States. The recently enacted GENIUS Act has provided a framework for stablecoin usage, easing concerns among corporate treasury departments.

With clearer rules in place, companies are more willing to experiment with digital currencies for payments, settlements, and treasury management.

A Shift Toward Blockchain-Based Payments

DoorDash’s move highlights how blockchain is increasingly being integrated into mainstream business operations, particularly in sectors that rely on high-volume, cross-border transactions.

By leveraging stablecoins, companies can reduce reliance on intermediaries, lower transaction costs, and improve efficiency. For gig economy platforms, this could translate into faster payouts and better financial flexibility for workers.

DeFi & FinTech, News

Ripple is laying the groundwork for a post-quantum future with a comprehensive roadmap to upgrade the XRP Ledger (XRPL) against emerging cryptographic threats. The initiative comes as advances in quantum computing raise concerns about the long-term security of blockchain systems.

Recent developments from Google Quantum AI have intensified discussions around how quantum machines could eventually break widely used cryptographic standards. While such risks are not immediate, Ripple argues that preparation must begin now—especially for systems designed to store long-term value.

Why Quantum Risk Matters for Blockchain

Modern blockchains rely on cryptographic algorithms to secure wallets, validate transactions and protect user funds. However, sufficiently advanced quantum computers could theoretically break these systems, exposing private keys and compromising assets.

A growing concern is the so-called “harvest now, decrypt later” strategy, where attackers collect encrypted blockchain data today with the intention of decrypting it once quantum capabilities mature. This creates a delayed but serious risk for long-lived assets.

For XRPL, the issue is particularly relevant because public keys are revealed during transactions. Over time, this exposure could make accounts vulnerable in a post-quantum environment if no migration path exists.

XRPL’s Built-In Advantages

Ripple emphasizes that XRPL is not starting from scratch. The network already includes features that make future upgrades more feasible compared to other blockchains like Ethereum.

One key advantage is native key rotation, which allows users to update their cryptographic keys without changing account addresses. This enables gradual migration away from potentially vulnerable keys. Additionally, XRPL supports seed-based key generation, allowing deterministic creation of new keys.

While these features are not quantum-resistant on their own, they provide a strong foundation for transitioning to new cryptographic standards without disrupting users.

A Four-Phase Roadmap to 2028

Ripple’s strategy is structured as a multi-phase roadmap aimed at achieving full post-quantum readiness by 2028.

The first phase focuses on “Q-Day” preparedness, a contingency plan for a scenario where current cryptography is suddenly broken. This includes mechanisms to securely migrate funds to quantum-resistant accounts, potentially using advanced techniques like zero-knowledge proofs.

The second phase, underway in 2026, involves testing quantum-resistant algorithms recommended by global standards bodies such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology. This includes evaluating their impact on performance, storage, and network efficiency.

In the third phase, Ripple plans to introduce hybrid systems where traditional and quantum-resistant cryptography run in parallel. This allows developers to test new systems without disrupting the existing network.

The final phase targets full implementation, with XRPL transitioning to native post-quantum cryptography across the ecosystem by 2028.

Collaboration and Industry Efforts

Ripple is working with partners like Project Eleven to accelerate development. This includes validator-level testing, custody solutions, and real-world simulations of quantum-resistant systems.

The company is also exploring broader cryptographic innovations, including quantum-safe zero-knowledge proofs and encryption methods that could enhance privacy and compliance features on XRPL.

Preparing for a Quantum Future

Ripple’s roadmap highlights a growing recognition across the crypto industry: quantum computing is no longer a distant possibility but a credible future risk.

By starting early, Ripple aims to ensure that XRPL remains secure, scalable, and reliable even as the underlying technological landscape evolves. The approach balances innovation with caution, focusing on gradual migration rather than disruptive overhauls.

If successful, the initiative could position XRPL as one of the first major blockchain networks ready for the quantum era—well before the threat becomes urgent.

DeFi & FinTech, News, Technology & Security

Coinbase is expanding its push into artificial intelligence with the launch of Agentic.market, a new marketplace built on its x402 payments protocol that allows AI agents to discover and use digital services autonomously.

The platform aims to solve a growing problem in the AI ecosystem: fragmentation. While AI agents are increasingly capable of executing tasks and even making payments, finding compatible services has largely relied on manual discovery and informal networks.

Building an App Store for AI Agents

Agentic.market is designed as a centralized hub where both humans and AI agents can browse, compare and access services that integrate with the x402 protocol. According to Coinbase product lead Nick Prince, the goal is to provide access to thousands of services without requiring traditional API keys.

The marketplace includes integrations with platforms such as CoinGecko, Google Flights and X, enabling AI agents to perform a wide range of tasks, from retrieving data to booking travel or interacting with online communities.

Beyond a user-facing interface, the platform also includes a programmable layer that allows AI agents to autonomously search for services, integrate new capabilities and execute tasks in real time without human intervention.

How the x402 Protocol Powers Payments

At the core of the system is the x402 protocol, launched by Coinbase in 2025. Named after the rarely used HTTP “402 Payment Required” status code, the protocol enables AI agents to make internet-native payments using stablecoins such as USD Coin.

Each AI agent on the platform is equipped with a wallet and a set of “skills,” which define how it interacts with different services. This allows agents not only to pay for services but also to offer services themselves, creating a two-sided marketplace powered by blockchain payments.

Coinbase says that hundreds of thousands of AI agents have already processed hundreds of millions of dollars in transaction volume using x402, highlighting early traction for the model.

Growing Industry Support for AI Payments

The launch comes amid increasing industry interest in combining AI with blockchain-based payments. Earlier this month, major technology firms including Google, Microsoft, and Amazon Web Services backed the formation of the x402 Foundation, which will oversee the protocol’s development.

Additional support has come from payments giants such as Visa and Mastercard, as well as crypto and fintech firms including Circle, Polygon Labs, and Solana Foundation.

This broad backing reflects a shared view that AI agents could soon become major economic actors, requiring efficient and programmable payment systems.

A Glimpse into the Future of Digital Commerce

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has repeatedly emphasized that AI agents may soon outnumber humans in online transactions. Industry leaders like Jeremy Allaire have echoed this outlook, predicting billions of AI agents will transact on blockchain networks within a few years.

By launching Agentic.market, Coinbase is positioning itself at the intersection of these trends. If AI agents do become dominant participants in digital commerce, platforms like this could form the backbone of a new, machine-driven economy where software not only executes tasks, but also earns, spends and interacts independently.

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