Stellar Development Foundation

To create equitable access to the global financial system through blockchain technology.

The Stellar Development Foundation (SDF) operates the Stellar network, a public blockchain built specifically for financial services. Since 2014, SDF has grown Stellar into a platform that processes billions in stablecoin payments and powers cross-border transactions with 9.5-second settlement times. The network supports cash-to-crypto ramps in over 180 countries and holds more than $200 million in total value locked. Major institutions use Stellar to issue stablecoins like USDC and tokenize real-world assets, including U.S. Treasuries from firms like Franklin Templeton. As a nonprofit organization, SDF focuses on creating equitable access to the global financial system without the pressure of short-term revenue goals or shareholders.

Products

Stellar's core offering is a public blockchain optimized for payments and asset tokenization. The platform includes Soroban, a smart contract platform for building DeFi applications, and the Stellar Disbursement Platform for bulk global payouts. Major stablecoins like USDC, PYUSD, and EURC operate on the network alongside tokenized assets from financial institutions. The Anchor Platform simplifies integration with existing financial infrastructure, while the Wallet SDK helps developers build payment applications. MoneyGram Ramps provide direct cash-to-crypto conversion services, enabling seamless fiat onboarding for applications built on Stellar.

Funding

SDF operates as a nonprofit funded through its initial allocation of Lumens (XLM) rather than traditional venture capital. The foundation secured $30 million in funding in March 2022, though specific investor details aren't publicly disclosed. SDF uses its XLM treasury to invest in ecosystem projects through its Enterprise Fund, backing startups like Uniblock, Jia, and Splyce Finance. The network has seen massive adoption recently, with over $5.5 billion in stablecoin payment volume in Q1 2026 and more than $2 billion in onchain real-world assets.

Recent news

In June 2026, the Stellar Development Foundation introduced the Quantum Preparedness Plan, a comprehensive multi-year roadmap designed to migrate the Stellar network to quantum-safe cryptography by the end of 2027 to protect user accounts against future quantum computing threats.

Technology

Stellar Core, the network's backbone, is built primarily in modern C++ with Rust used for Soroban smart contracts. The infrastructure runs on AWS and GCP with Kubernetes for container orchestration. PostgreSQL handles transaction storage while Apache Kafka manages event-driven messaging. The team uses Jenkins for CI/CD, Prometheus for monitoring, and Elasticsearch for logging. Infrastructure as code is managed through Ansible and Terraform. Development emphasizes distributed systems, peer-to-peer networking, consensus models, and formal verification. Engineers work on performance optimization, security simulations, and detailed RFC specifications for protocol changes.

Benefits

SDF offers competitive salaries ranging from $180,000-$290,000 plus lumen-denominated grants. Health, dental, and vision coverage is fully covered for employees and dependents. The company provides flexible time off, 15 paid holidays including a company-wide break, and up to 14 weeks of paid parental leave. Additional perks include a 401(k) with 4% match, $1,500 annual learning budget, $80 monthly gym reimbursement, and commuter benefits with $250 monthly contribution. Employees get access to One Medical, Headspace, and family-building benefits through Kindbody. The hybrid workplace includes daily catered lunch and snacks, plus regular company retreats. SDF is certified as a Great Place to Work with a 96% positive employee rating.