Stripe Backs New Blockchain ‘Tempo’ with OpenAI & Anthropic

Stripe is funding a new independent blockchain venture called Tempo to handle high-volume stablecoin processing, CEO Patrick Collison announced on Thursday, marking a major crypto infrastructure play following the fintech giant’s recent acquisition of Bridge. The initiative aims to streamline transactions using stablecoins—digital assets pegged to stable reserves like the U.S. dollar—to bypass traditional cryptocurrency volatility.

A Powerhouse Coalition: OpenAI, Anthropic, and Visa Join Forces

What sets Tempo apart is the immediate backing of an elite roster of design partners spanning artificial intelligence, fintech, and global banking. Stripe has already secured collaboration from industry giants including Anthropic, Coupang, Deutsche Bank, DoorDash, Lead Bank, Mercury, Nubank, OpenAI, Revolut, Shopify, Standard Chartered, and Visa. Once operational, these strategic partners are positioned to leverage the blockchain for diverse applications, ranging from automated agentic payments to seamless international remittances.

Led by Crypto Royalty: Paradigm’s Matt Huang Takes the Helm

The leadership team behind the venture brings significant industry weight. Matt Huang, a Stripe board member and co-founder of the prominent cryptocurrency venture capital firm Paradigm, has signed on to lead Tempo. In addition to Huang’s leadership, Paradigm has joined as an investor in the project. Collison emphasized that despite Stripe’s heavy backing and close alignment, Tempo will operate strictly as an independent entity.