Tempo is a Layer 1 blockchain incubated by financial technology company Stripe and cryptocurrency investment firm Paradigm. It is an EVM-compatible network designed specifically to provide dedicated infrastructure for high-volume, real-world payment use cases, with a primary focus on stablecoin transactions. [1] [2]
Tempo was developed to address the perceived shortcomings of general-purpose blockchains, which are often optimized for trading or decentralized finance (DeFi) rather than payments. According to its backers, much of the existing crypto infrastructure is "comparatively underoptimized for payments," leading to issues like network congestion and unpredictable transaction fees that hinder mainstream adoption for payment applications. [3]
Tempo aims to solve this by providing a specialized, high-throughput network with features tailored to the needs of businesses and developers in financial services, commerce, and artificial intelligence. [1]
The project's core value proposition is to offer a neutral, permissionless platform for stablecoin-based payments that is scalable, fast, and cost-effective. It combines Stripe's experience in global payments with Paradigm's expertise in cryptocurrency to create an infrastructure layer for use cases such as global payouts, remittances, and tokenized deposits. [2]
Matt Huang, Head of Tempo, stated;
“We believe Tempo will complement existing crypto infrastructure and be a conduit for many large enterprises to come onchain, increasing adoption of crypto tools and infrastructure.” [3]
The network is not intended to displace other blockchains but rather to serve the specific requirements of high-volume payment flows. [1]
In August 2025, reports first surfaced in Fortune magazine, citing anonymous sources, that Stripe and Paradigm were collaborating on a payments-focused blockchain. [4]
The project was officially announced on September 4, 2025. The announcement confirmed that Tempo was live on a private testnet, with priority access being granted to a select group of design partners for testing purposes. [2]
The launch of Tempo is considered part of Stripe's broader strategic expansion into cryptocurrency services.
This move followed the company's introduction of "Stablecoin Financial Accounts" in May 2025. [4]
At the time of the announcement, the project was set to operate independently with its own full-time team, while maintaining its connections to both Stripe and Paradigm.
The initial validator set for the network was composed of design partners, with a stated roadmap to transition towards a fully permissionless validator model over time. [3] [4]
Tempo is an Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)-compatible Layer 1 blockchain built using Reth, a Rust-based Ethereum execution layer. Its architecture is designed from the ground up to support payment-centric operations at scale. [3]
The network is engineered to achieve high throughput and low latency to facilitate real-time payments globally. Its stated performance metrics include:
These performance characteristics are intended to meet the demands of large-scale commercial and financial applications. [1] [4]
Tempo incorporates several features specifically designed to optimize the user experience for payments and meet enterprise compliance requirements. [2]
Tempo is designed to support a wide range of real-world payment applications for companies with large economic flows. Stripe CEO Patrick Collison noted that the project aims to facilitate various on-chain activities. [4] The project has identified several key use cases:
These use cases reflect the project's focus on bridging traditional finance and commerce with blockchain technology. [1] [3]
Tempo was incubated as a joint initiative by Stripe, a global financial infrastructure platform, and Paradigm, a crypto-focused investment firm.
The project is led by Matt Huang, who is also the co-founder and Managing Partner of Paradigm. Huang continues to hold his role at Paradigm while serving as the Head of Tempo. [3]
While incubated by Stripe and Paradigm, Tempo operates as an independent entity with its own dedicated team. The project leverages Stripe's extensive experience in the global payments industry and Paradigm's deep expertise in cryptocurrency protocols and infrastructure. [2]
During its development, Tempo collaborated with a consortium of companies from various sectors to provide design input and ensure the blockchain meets a broad array of real-world needs. These partners span financial services, technology, e-commerce, and artificial intelligence. The announced design partners include:
This group of partners signals significant institutional interest in the project and its potential for adoption across different industries. [2] [3]