#protocol upgrades

➤ Stellar (XLM) reported $2 billion in tokenized RWAs and $5.5 billion in payment volume in Q1 2026, with significant protocol upgrades enhancing privacy, payments, and security. ➤ Key developments include the 'X-Ray' ZK primitive layer for privacy-preserving applications and the x402 specification for programmable payments, alongside Protocol 26 ('Yardstick') for enhanced security. ➤ Despite market softness and temporary trading halts on Korean exchanges, Stellar is positioning itself as a leader in institutional adoption through its focus on RWA tokenization and robust infrastructure.

➤ Ethereum's network fundamentals are surging, evidenced by a 61% tokenization market share, record stablecoin volumes, and increased transaction activity, despite its price stagnating near $2,349. ➤ Institutional adoption is growing, with significant inflows into spot Ethereum ETFs from major asset managers like BlackRock and Fidelity, and corporate treasuries accumulating Ether. ➤ The network is undergoing major protocol upgrades in 2026, focusing on parallel processing, statelessness, and enhanced staking mechanisms, while the Ethereum Foundation shifts its treasury strategy towards staking yield.

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