Stripe has launched its own blockchain. The payments giant introduced Tempo on March 18, a Layer 1 blockchain designed specifically for stablecoin transactions. It integrates the Machine Payments Protocol, enabling AI agents to execute real-time payments autonomously.
Stripe's blockchain journey began with its $1.1 billion acquisition of Bridge in early 2025, providing the stablecoin orchestration tools needed for a crypto-native payments layer. In May 2025, Stripe rolled out Treasury stablecoin accounts to businesses across 101 countries, allowing management of both stablecoin and fiat transactions from a single interface.
The Machine Payments Protocol supports what Stripe calls 'agentic finance,' where AI agents can initiate, authorize, and settle payments in real time without human intervention. The protocol handles high-frequency, low-value micropayments economically unviable on most existing blockchains due to gas fees.
Early partners include Visa, Nubank, Shopify, and Klarna, spanning card networks, neobanks, e-commerce, and buy-now-pay-later services.
Stripe's expansion of Treasury accounts to 101 countries targets businesses in regions with volatile local currencies, offering stable dollar-based accounts without a US banking relationship. Stripe dropped Bitcoin payments in 2018 due to speed and volatility issues; its return through stablecoins reflects a practical approach.
For stablecoin issuers like Circle (USDC) and Tether (USDT), Tempo could drive significant new demand as the default settlement currency for AI-driven commerce. However, a blockchain controlled by a single company raises questions about neutrality and censorship resistance that decentralized chains provide.