SDF Proposes Access and Innovation Solutions to U.S. Treasury

• The Stellar Development Foundation (SDF) has made a case for open banking innovations.
• Stellar Lumens remains committed to driving financial inclusion through blockchain technology.

In an open letter to the US Treasury, the Stellar Development Foundation (SDF) responded to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Request for Information on Financial Inclusion, emphasizing the importance of access and leveraging technology to advance financial inclusion efforts, supported by Stellar Lumens (XLM).

Access as a Core Tenet of Financial Inclusion

According to a blog post, access, as defined by SDF, stands as a fundamental pillar for driving financial inclusion forward. In today’s increasingly digital economy, access to formal financial systems such as bank accounts is imperative for individuals, households, and small businesses to participate fully and unlock advanced services like savings and lending. 

SDF advocates for the provision of free or low-cost financial products that support everyday transactions, thereby addressing traditional barriers like minimum account balances and account fees that hinder participation in the formal economy.

One avenue proposed by SDF is leveraging digital wallets and blockchain technology to facilitate these financial services. SDF noted that the Stellar network, being a public and freely accessible blockchain, offers a conducive environment and a robust set of technical tools for such services. 

Additionally, SDF emphasizes the importance of innovation, particularly smart contracts, in empowering individuals. Smart contracts, operating as self-executing code on digital ledgers, facilitate automated transactions without the need for intermediaries, thus promoting financial inclusion by circumventing legacy barriers. Open-source smart contracts allow for transparency and collaboration, promoting trust and security by allowing users to verify the integrity of the code and detect vulnerabilities.

Furthermore, SDF noted the importance of open data in advancing financial inclusion activities. For instance, initiatives like Brazil’s open banking allow customers to own and share their financial data with independent third-party providers, boosting innovation and competition in the financial services industry.

Finally, SDF’s letter to the U.S. Treasury presents vital considerations for the development of a national strategy for financial inclusion, advocating for an open system philosophy. 

XLM: Market Insights and Future Outlook

As of the time of writing, XLM is trading at $0.1368, down by 8.8% in the past 24 hours, with its market cap standing at $3.9 billion.

Despite short-term market fluctuations, XLM maintains its position as a prominent cryptocurrency. Building on previous reports by Crypto News Flash, a pseudonymous analyst has offered a bullish prediction for XLM, stating that $5 is attainable in the long run.

According to a prior report by Crypto News Flash, XLM stands out among blockchain initiatives leading the push as ISO 20022-compliant cryptocurrency. ISO 20022 is a new worldwide protocol that enables secure financial message exchange. Stellar’s commitment to ISO 20022 makes it a potential partner for Central Banks and financial organizations looking for modern payment solutions.

Moreover, tokenization on the Stellar network has surged, solidifying its position as a leader in driving adoption within the crypto and blockchain industry.