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Tempo’s Launch of “Zones” Feature Sparks Privacy Controversy; Enterprise-Grade Stablecoin Privacy Solution Criticized for Centralization
According to Cointelegraph, Tempo—a payment-focused Layer-1 public blockchain backed by Stripe and Paradigm—recently launched its new “Zones” feature, enabling enterprises to conduct stablecoin transactions within permissioned environments while maintaining interoperability with public-chain liquidity. This functionality is primarily targeted at use cases such as payroll distribution, fund management, and B2B settlements. However, the feature has drawn criticism from industry observers due to its operator-centric design. Each Zone is controlled by a single operator who can view all transaction data and has the authority to suspend users’ transfer or withdrawal privileges in accordance with compliance requirements. Critics argue that this introduces a trust assumption akin to that of centralized exchanges, thereby deviating from blockchain’s core trustless principle.
B2B
Cointelegraph
Feature
Paradigm
Paradigm
Stripe
Crypto markets are sluggish, and most top-tier VCs have seen a significant decline in their AUM.
According to Fortune, during the 2025 crypto market downturn, major crypto-focused venture capital firms—including Paradigm, a16z, and Multicoin—generally saw declines in their assets under management (AUM). Specifically, a16z’s four crypto funds experienced an almost 40% drop in AUM to $9.5 billion compared to 2024; however, the firm had already distributed capital to limited partners (LPs) at market highs, with its first crypto fund achieving a distribution-to-paid-in (DPI) ratio of 5.4—demonstrating standout returns. Multicoin’s AUM fell by roughly half from its peak to approximately $2.7 billion. Pantera Capital also completed exit distributions via the IPOs of five portfolio companies, including Circle and BitGo. In contrast, Haun Ventures grew its AUM by over 30% year-on-year to around $2.5 billion. Currently, institutions including Paradigm, a16z crypto, and Dragonfly are actively raising new funds, with a combined target size exceeding $4.2 billion.
BitGo
Circle
Pantera Capital
Paradigm
Paradigm
Visa, Stripe, and Zodia Custody Become Early Validators of the Tempo Payment Blockchain
According to The Block, Visa, Stripe, and Zodia Custody—a digital asset custody firm backed by Standard Chartered Bank—have become the first validators on the Tempo payment blockchain. Tempo is an Ethereum-compatible Layer 1 blockchain designed specifically for high-throughput payments and stablecoin settlement, primarily targeting large institutions. Validators are responsible for verifying, ordering, and finalizing on-chain transactions, and are typically mature organizations with global operational capabilities. Tempo was incubated by Stripe and Paradigm, launched its private testnet in September 2025, and closed a $500 million Series A funding round in October at a valuation of approximately $5 billion. Recently, Tempo introduced its “Agent Payments” protocol—executed by AI agents—and has attracted infrastructure integrations including RedStone.
Block
Ethereum
Paradigm
Paradigm
RedStone
Stripe