The Protocol 23<\/strong> upgrade represents the major technical catalyst for 2025<\/strong>. This evolution introduces parallel execution of Soroban smart contracts<\/strong>, with an ambitious target of 5,000 TPS<\/strong>. To put this in context, Ethereum<\/a><\/strong> currently processes between 15 and 30 TPS<\/strong> on its main layer. This scalability would multiply the network’s current capabilities by more than 150 times<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The expected impact goes beyond raw performance. Transaction fees are expected to drop, making Stellar competitive against Ethereum<\/a> Layer 2s<\/strong>. This speed-cost combination could attract DeFi developers and institutional tokenization projects. JP Morgan notably highlights the persistent lack of truly efficient cross-border payment solutions at a global scale<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, cross-border payments<\/strong> have historically been Stellar<\/a>‘s specialty. With anticipated growth in this sector through 2027<\/strong>, the technical timing appears optimal. The question now is whether execution will live up to the whitepaper’s promises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n