The Stellar Development Foundation (SDF) announced on July 16 that it has designated MoneyGram, Figure Markets, and blockchain security firm Range as Stellar primary validators, enabling the three regulated entities to shift from being simple network users to blockchain operators. According to the announcement, the three new validator nodes are expected to be added to Stellar’s quorum configuration in mid-August.
Business Background of Stellar’s New Primary Validators
Based on the SDF announcement and statements from the parties involved, the three newly added primary validators each have different business backgrounds:
· MoneyGram is a global remittance company. Since 2021, it has built its business on the Stellar network. The two parties’ partner platform supports bidirectional swaps between the USDC stablecoin and cash, allowing users to send cross-border remittances and withdraw cash at MoneyGram’s offline branch locations. In a statement, Luke Tuttle, MoneyGram’s Chief Product and Technology Officer, said: “Becoming a Stellar validator deepens our commitment to this ecosystem.”
· Figure Markets is continuing to expand regulated financial products on the Stellar network, including its $YLDS stablecoin project. Range is a blockchain security company. According to its announcement, Range currently monitors more than 200 blockchain networks and has helped safeguard the security of more than $30 billion in digital assets.
Stellar Consensus Agreement Framework
The Stellar network uses the “Stellar Consensus Protocol” (SCP). This mechanism operates on a proof-of-agreement model and differs from Proof of Stake (PoS) in how rewards are distributed: SCP does not pay validators, and operators must bear the node maintenance costs themselves.
In the announcement, Jose Fernandez da Ponte, SDF’s President and Chief Growth Officer, explained: “The Stellar network’s consensus protocol allows any organization to run publicly identifiable validator nodes and independently choose who to trust.” Justin Rice, SDF’s Vice President responsible for ecosystem growth, added: “Organizations that step up to run primary validator nodes are by no means passive participants; they have a direct stake in the network’s long-term security and neutrality.”
Technical Requirements for Primary Validators and Quorum Integration Timeline
According to the SDF announcement, qualified primary validator operators must meet the following technical requirements:
· Operate three full-node validators distributed across different geographic locations
· Maintain at least 99.9% uptime
· Complete the SEP-1 and SEP-20 validation standards
· Co-participate in the network upgrade process with existing primary members
SDF said introducing operators from more industries and regions helps reduce the risk of SCP stalling due to simultaneous failures, thereby improving the blockchain’s overall resilience. The three new validator nodes are expected to be formally included in Stellar’s quorum configuration in mid-August 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which three primary validator nodes has Stellar added?
According to the SDF announcement dated July 16, 2026, the three newly added primary validator nodes are MoneyGram (a global remittance company), Figure Markets (regulated financial products, including $YLDS stablecoins), and Range (a blockchain security company that monitors more than 200 blockchain networks and has secured more than $30 billion in assets).
When will the three new primary validators join Stellar’s Quorum?
According to the SDF announcement, the three new validator nodes are expected to be added to Stellar’s quorum configuration in mid-August 2026; the specific timing will be subject to SDF’s official announcement.
What technical requirements apply to Stellar primary validator nodes?
According to the SDF announcement, primary node operators must operate three geographically distributed full-node validators, maintain at least 99.9% uptime, complete SEP-1 and SEP-20 validations, and participate in network upgrades with existing primary members.
