Tempo is a Layer 1 blockchain built specifically for stablecoin payments. It is EVM-compatible but introduces protocol-level features that generic smart contract platforms don't have: no native gas token (fees are paid in stablecoins), an enshrined token standard (TIP-20), protocol-native passkey support, and sub-second deterministic finality.
Who is behind Tempo
Tempo was incubated by Stripe and Paradigm and raised $500M. Its design partners include Anthropic, Visa, Mastercard, Klarna, Revolut, Shopify, Deutsche Bank, and dozens of other payment and fintech companies. Over 60 infrastructure partners support the network, including Alchemy, QuickNode, Chainlink, and Fireblocks.
How Tempo differs from Ethereum
Tempo targets the Osaka EVM hard fork, so standard Solidity contracts, Foundry, Hardhat, and all Ethereum JSON-RPC methods work out of the box. The differences are at the protocol level:
- No native token. There is no ETH equivalent. Transaction fees are denominated in USD and paid directly in stablecoins like USDC or USDT. Users never need to acquire a volatile token.
- TIP-20 token standard. All tokens are created through an enshrined factory, have exactly 6 decimals, and support memo fields for payment references. Token addresses start with
0x20c0. - Custom transaction type (0x76). Supports atomic batching, fee sponsorship via co-signatures, time-bounded execution, and inline access key provisioning.
- Protocol-native passkeys. The network verifies secp256k1, P256, and WebAuthn signatures at the protocol level. No smart contract wallet needed.
- Payment lanes. TIP-20 transfers get dedicated blockspace, guaranteeing throughput even during congestion.
- Sub-second finality. Tempo uses Simplex BFT consensus with ~0.5 second block times and no reorgs.
Network details
Tempo's testnet is called Moderato:
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Chain ID (testnet) | 42431 |
| Chain ID (mainnet) | 4217 |
| RPC | https://rpc.moderato.tempo.xyz |
| Explorer | https://explore.tempo.xyz |
Related content
- How to Get Started Building on Tempo: set up your environment and send your first transfer
- What is TIP-20?: Tempo's enshrined token standard
- How Do Transaction Fees Work on Tempo?: fee model without a native gas token