The Stellar Development Foundation (SDF) has announced that MoneyGram, Figure Markets, and Range will operate Tier 1 validators on the Stellar blockchain, adding three major financial infrastructure firms to the network’s core consensus layer.
The new validators strengthen the blockchain that supports regulated financial services, with each organization running multiple geographically distributed validator nodes. According to SDF, the move improves the network’s resilience while expanding the range of institutions helping maintain Stellar’s operations.
Five years back, we started building on the @StellarOrg network. Today, we help power it.
🚨 MoneyGram is now a Tier 1 validator on Stellar.
Bringing decades of payments expertise, global trust and compliance leadership to the future of money movement. pic.twitter.com/t3ppG8eYwz
— MoneyGram (@MoneyGram) July 16, 2026
Tier 1 validators are publicly identified organizations responsible for validating transactions and helping the network reach consensus. Unlike proof-of-work systems, Stellar’s consensus model allows validators to choose trusted peers, creating a network designed for regulated financial activity.
Three companies, three roles across finance
Each organization brings a different area of expertise to Stellar. MoneyGram, which has partnered with Stellar since 2021, already uses the network to power its cash on and off-ramp services and its digital dollar balance product. The company said becoming a validator shows its long-term commitment to blockchain-based payments.
Figure Markets joins with experience in blockchain-based capital markets and digital financial products. The company recently introduced the yield-bearing stablecoin YLDS on Stellar and said the validator role expands its contribution to the ecosystem.
Range, a digital asset infrastructure company securing more than $30 billion in assets across multiple blockchain networks, adds blockchain security and compliance expertise to Stellar’s validator network.
Why institutions are becoming blockchain validators
Running validator infrastructure has become increasingly important as blockchains compete for institutional adoption. Financial companies are no longer participating only as service providers or asset issuers. Many now help operate the networks they depend on.
For institutions handling payments, tokenized assets, or stablecoins, participating in consensus provides greater visibility into network operations while supporting reliability. It also shows long-term commitment to the ecosystem, especially on networks built for regulated finance.
Stellar said every Tier 1 validator must maintain at least 99.9% uptime, operate three geographically dispersed full validator nodes, complete network identity verification, and coordinate with other validator operators during upgrades. The three new validators are expected to become fully integrated into Stellar’s quorum configuration by mid-August.
MoneyGram moved deeper into digital finance by running blockchain systems that support stablecoins and privacy-focused networks. This helps connect traditional finance with new crypto technologies, making blockchain payments practical.
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