Tempo
Category: AI in Fintech
A purpose-built, Layer 1 blockchain for payments, designed for stablecoin transactions and real-world payments Tempo was founded in 2025. The company is led by Matt Huang. Based in San Francisco, USA. Team size: 15-50. Total funding raised: $500 million. Latest round: Series A. Key investors include Greenoaks, Thrive Capital (Joshua Kushner), Sequoia, Ribbit Capital, SV Angel.
- Founded
- 2025
- Headquarters
- San Francisco, USA
- Team size
- 15-50
- Total funding
- $500 million
Value proposition
High-speed, low-cost blockchain for stablecoin payments targeting 100,000+ TPS with sub-second finality, allowing fees to be paid in stablecoins
Products and solutions
Tempo Blockchain (Layer 1), Built-in Stable Asset DEX, Payment Metadata Infrastructure, Deterministic Settlement System
Unique value
Payments-first blockchain specifically architected for stablecoins from the ground up, with dedicated payment lanes and stablecoin-native gas fees
Target customer
Enterprises, financial institutions, fintechs, and businesses requiring high-throughput payment solutions
Industries served
Fintech, E-commerce, Banking, Payments, Remittances, Cross-border Payments
Technology advantage
High-performance architecture targeting 100,000+ TPS, sub-second finality, EVM compatibility, stablecoin-native gas model, and backing by Stripe and Paradigm
How they differentiate
Tempo differentiates by being a 'payments-first' blockchain specifically designed for stablecoins, focusing on high-throughput, low-cost transactions with dedicated payment lanes and stablecoin-native fees, backed by major players in traditional finance
Main competitors
Solana, Ethereum L2s (Optimism, Arbitrum, Base), Circle (USDC infrastructure), Tether (USDT infrastructure)
Key partnerships
Stripe (Co-creator), Paradigm (Co-creator), Visa (Design Partner), Deutsche Bank (Design Partner), Shopify (Design Partner), Nubank (Design Partner), OpenAI (Design Partner), Revolut (Design Partner), Mastercard, UBS, Kalshi, Anthropic, DoorDash, Coupang, Lead Bank, Mercury, Standard Chartered
Notable customers
Visa, Deutsche Bank, Shopify, OpenAI, Anthropic, DoorDash, Coupang, Lead Bank, Mercury, Nubank, Revolut, Standard Chartered, Mastercard, UBS, Kalshi
Major milestones
Raised $500 million Series A at $5 billion valuation (October 2025), Launched public testnet (December 9, 2025), Announced partnership with major design partners including Visa, Deutsche Bank, Shopify, Matt Huang appointed as CEO while maintaining role at Paradigm
Growth metrics
Public testnet launched December 2025, targeting 100,000+ TPS, sub-second finality
Market positioning
Positioned as infrastructure for global payments, targeting both traditional financial institutions and the growing digital economy, aiming to bridge the gap between traditional finance and crypto
Geographic focus
Global, with strong focus on US and European markets
Patents and IP
Not publicly available
About Matt Huang
Co-founder and Managing Partner at Paradigm, Partner at Sequoia Capital, Founder and CEO of Hotspots (acquired by Twitter)
Official website: https://tempo.xyz/