The Stellar Development Foundation (SDF) has appointed MoneyGram, Figure Markets, and blockchain security firm Range as Tier 1 validators, expanding the number of regulated organizations directly participating in the operation of the Stellar blockchain. The move upgrades the three companies from network participants to operators responsible for helping secure Stellar’s consensus mechanism.
The organizations are expected to join Stellar’s quorum configuration by mid-August, marking an expansion of the network’s validator base as the foundation continues to strengthen the resilience and decentralization of its blockchain infrastructure.
The Stellar Development Foundation has designated MoneyGram, Figure Markets, and Range as Tier 1 validators, enabling the regulated organizations to operate consensus nodes and help secure the blockchain’s transaction validation process.
Expanding institutional participation
The appointments reinforce Stellar’s long-standing focus on cross-border payments and financial infrastructure. MoneyGram’s inclusion is particularly significant because the global money transfer company already relies on Stellar’s blockchain for international payment services. By becoming a validator, the company will move beyond using the network to participating directly in its operation.
MoneyGram announced that it had been building services on Stellar for approximately five years and indicated that its new role would allow it to contribute directly to supporting the network. The company also stated that its responsibilities as a Tier 1 validator would include helping strengthen payment infrastructure while supporting compliance efforts.
Unlike proof-of-stake blockchains, Stellar uses the Stellar Consensus Protocol, a proof-of-agreement model in which validators collectively determine whether transactions should be added to the blockchain. Under this system, validator operators maintain and secure the network without receiving the staking rewards commonly associated with proof-of-stake platforms.
By becoming a Tier 1 validator on the Stellar network, @MoneyGram is taking its participation one step further beyond building.@_therealjosh discussing why this decision was an easy one 👇 pic.twitter.com/JA44RJA24t
— Stellar (@StellarOrg) July 16, 2026
According to the Stellar Development Foundation, the consensus mechanism enables publicly identifiable institutions to operate validators while independently determining which network participants they trust. Foundation President and Chief Growth Officer Jose Fernandez da Ponte indicated that adding MoneyGram, Figure Markets, and Range would strengthen the blockchain’s long-term stability and decentralization.
Justin Rice, Vice President of Ecosystem Growth at the foundation, explained that the three organizations were expected to play an active role in the network’s development. He indicated that Tier 1 validators are directly invested in maintaining the blockchain’s long-term security, neutrality, and operational reliability rather than serving as passive participants.
Long-standing partnership with MoneyGram
MoneyGram and Stellar have collaborated since 2021, when they introduced services allowing users to convert cash into USDC stablecoins and redeem digital assets for cash through MoneyGram’s global retail locations. That partnership enabled cross-border money transfers using blockchain technology while leveraging MoneyGram’s existing payment network.
MoneyGram’s transition from a payment partner to a Tier 1 validator expands its role from using Stellar’s blockchain for cross-border transactions to actively securing the network’s consensus infrastructure.
Luke Tuttle, MoneyGram’s Chief Product and Technology Officer, stated that the decision reflected the company’s long-term commitment to open and interoperable payment infrastructure. He indicated that becoming a validator further strengthened MoneyGram’s involvement in the Stellar ecosystem and aligned with its view that future payment systems would increasingly rely on open blockchain networks.
The other newly appointed Tier 1 validators also bring specialized expertise to the ecosystem. Figure Markets continues expanding regulated financial products on Stellar, including initiatives involving its $YLDS stablecoin. Meanwhile, Range contributes blockchain security experience, monitoring more than 200 blockchain networks and helping secure digital assets valued at more than $30 billion.
Validator standards strengthen network resilience
According to the foundation, Tier 1 validator operators must satisfy strict operational requirements. These include maintaining three geographically distributed full validator nodes, achieving at least 99.9% uptime, completing SEP-1 and SEP-20 verification standards, and participating in future network upgrades alongside existing Tier 1 validators.
The foundation said expanding the validator network across multiple industries and geographic regions is intended to reduce the risk of simultaneous infrastructure failures affecting blockchain operations while improving the overall resilience of the Stellar Consensus Protocol.
The newly appointed validators are scheduled to join Stellar‘s quorum configuration by mid-August, supporting broader decentralization and enhancing the network’s operational resilience through geographically distributed institutional participation.
