Key Takeaways
- Klarna launched KlarnaUSD, a dollar-backed token, marking the company’s first step into digital assets.
- The company expects KlarnaUSD to launch on the main network in 2026, and said the token is already being tested through Bridge’s Open Issuance platform.
- KlarnaUSD is slated for a twenty twenty six mainnet release, with testing already under way through Bridge’s Open Issuance platform.
- CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski said Klarna’s scale gives it leverage to advance new payment models, while the move also deepens the firm’s longstanding partnership with Stripe.
Table of Contents
Klarna, one of the world’s largest digital banks and payments firms, has announced the launch of KlarnaUSD, a new dollar-backed token, marking a significant shift in the company’s strategy.
According to the company, KlarnaUSD is being developed through Open Issuance, a platform operated by Bridge, and will be rolled out on Tempo, a new payments-focused blockchain created by Stripe and Paradigm, making Klarna the first bank to issue a stablecoin on the network.
For now, the token is live on the test environment, allowing Klarna to run technical trials and integration tests ahead of a planned mainnet rollout in 2026.
Chief executive Sebastian Siemiatkowski said Klarna’s base, which includes 114 million customers and more than 112 billion dollars in annual merchandise volume, positions the company to push new payment technology into mainstream use. He added that crypto systems have now reached a stage where they can offer fast and secure transactions at global scale.
The development strengthens Klarna’s relationship with Stripe, which supports its payments infrastructure in 26 markets, with additional crypto initiatives expected in the near term.
What Is Tempo, the New Payments Blockchain Backing KlarnaUSD
Tempo is a Layer-1 blockchain developed by Stripe and Paradigm, for the purpose of supporting high-volume stablecoin payments.
The network is is built to handle stablecoin transactions at a scale far higher than older blockchain systems. It handles more than 100,000 transactions each second with sub-second confirmation, achieving a level meant to support corporate payments, remittances, payroll and other high-volume activities.
Tempo also adopts a different model for fees, allowing users to complete transactions using supported stablecoins rather than a separate token.
Furthermore, the network incorporates features used by regulated payments systems, including ISO-20022-aligned memo fields, batch transfer capabilities and optional privacy settings for sensitive transactions.
Read More: Paxos Selects Plume and Two Other Platforms for First USDG0 Rollout; Full Details Inside
