MoneyGram joins Stellar as Tier 1 validator, expanding 2021 partnership

MoneyGram has joined the Stellar network as a Tier 1 validator, deepening a relationship that began in 2021 and expanding its role from payments infrastructure user to operator. Figure Markets and blockchain security firm Range are also being added as Tier 1 validators, with the three organizations expected to be folded into Stellar’s quorum configuration by mid-August. The move adds new operators from payments, regulated finance and security to the network’s consensus layer. Stellar said Tier 1 validators must run three geographically distributed full validators, maintain at least 99.9% uptime, complete SEP-1 and SEP-20 verification, and participate in network upgrades. The network uses the Stellar Consensus Protocol, a proof-of-agreement model in which validators choose whom to trust and are not directly paid as they would be on proof-of-stake chains. MoneyGram said the step builds on five years of work on Stellar and aligns with its focus on payments and compliance. The companies have worked together since 2021 on cash-to-USDC and USDC-to-cash services for cross-border transfers through MoneyGram’s retail network. Stellar Development Foundation executives said the additions should strengthen the network’s long-term security, neutrality and resilience by reducing the risk that simultaneous outages disrupt consensus. The update also brings new detail on the other incoming operators. Figure Markets is expanding regulated products on Stellar, including work tied to its $YLDS stablecoin, while Range says it monitors more than 200 blockchain networks and has helped secure over $30 billion in digital assets.