TL;DR
- Acquisition: Stripe bought the Valora team to advance blockchain infrastructure. Jackie Bona emphasized the goals of expanding access.
- Tempo partnerships: Tempo opened a testnet, built by Stripe and Paradigm with input from OpenAI, Shopify, and Visa.
- Architecture and funding: Tempo supports EVM compatibility and architecture to keep costs low. It accepts stablecoin gas payments, avoiding native token fees and reducing volatility.
Stripe has acquired the team behind Valora, a mobile-focused digital asset wallet, to advance blockchain financial infrastructure. Jackie Bona, Valora’s CEO and cofounder, announced the move as a step toward expanding global financial access. The team will bring web3 expertise and user design to Stripe’s blockchain initiatives. Valora’s application will return to cLabs for development, as Stripe leverages the team’s mobile wallet experience to scale crypto capabilities across its platform.
Today, I'm excited to share the next chapter in @Valora's journey. The Valora team will be joining @stripe, marking an important milestone in our mission to unlock access to financial opportunity for people around the world.
We founded Valora on a core belief and mission:…
— Jackie Bona (@jackie_bona) December 10, 2025
Valora team joins Stripe
Jackie Bona said conversations with Stripe revealed alignment on stablecoins and crypto infrastructure to expand economic participation. Integrating Valora’s team gives Stripe seasoned mobile wallet builders who have prioritized accessibility and clear product experiences. Their remit is to apply practical web3 learnings to Stripe’s platform, contributing to initiatives that make sending, saving, and transacting with digital assets simpler for everyday users, especially in markets underserved by traditional financial systems globally.
Valora app returns to cLabs
While the team transitions to Stripe, the Valora application will return to cLabs, the company from which Valora spun out four years ago, for development and maintenance. The product focus remains clear: enable easier sending, saving, and transacting with digital assets on mobile globally. Separating the app from the team ensures continuity for users while allowing Stripe to channel the group’s expertise into broader blockchain initiatives across its payments platform.
Tempo testnet launch and partnerships
The team acquisition follows Tempo’s testnet launch one day earlier. Tempo is a blockchain network built by Stripe and Paradigm focused on payment infrastructure and stablecoin applications, with technical input from OpenAI, Shopify, and Visa. With the testnet opening, Tempo disclosed partnerships with Mastercard, UBS, and Klarna. Klarna intends to issue KlarnaUSD on Tempo, timed with mainnet deployment next year, reinforcing stablecoin experiments within established payment rails.
Tempo architecture, fees, and funding
Matt Huang said the testnet enables experiments with payments, tokenized deposits, and AI-driven flows. The blockchain supports EVM compatibility and incorporates architecture to keep transaction costs low. Tempo accepts stablecoin payments for gas, avoiding native token fee requirements and reducing exposure to volatility. Four validators operated by the Tempo team secure the network, with broader participation planned for mainnet. Stripe secured $500 million in October for development.
