Luisa Crawford
Jul 17, 2025 16:27
José Fernández da Ponte, former PayPal executive, joins Stellar (XLM) Development Foundation as President & Chief Growth Officer to enhance digital asset adoption and infrastructure scaling.
In a strategic move to bolster its leadership, the Stellar (XLM) Development Foundation (SDF) has appointed José Fernández da Ponte as its new President and Chief Growth Officer. Known for his pivotal role in PayPal’s entry into stablecoins and digital assets, Fernández da Ponte brings a wealth of experience to Stellar’s mission of enhancing blockchain adoption and infrastructure scaling.
Driving Adoption Through Utility and Trust
Fernández da Ponte emphasized the importance of utility and trust in digital assets, highlighting that widespread adoption requires assets to be more than just tradable. “They must solve a clear problem, operate at scale, and offer a seamless user experience,” he noted. At Stellar, he aims to enable developers and enterprises to leverage the open protocol to achieve these goals.
Bridging the Gap Between Technology and Adoption
Having transitioned from fintech and traditional finance to the blockchain sector, Fernández da Ponte is poised to bridge the gap between technological possibilities and widespread adoption. He believes that digital public infrastructure can scale effectively with the right bridges. “Protocols like Stellar can connect new technologies to broader populations,” he stated.
Regulation and Innovation
With extensive experience in working with policymakers worldwide, Fernández da Ponte understands the delicate balance between regulation and innovation. He advocates for an alignment between regulation, market incentives, and utility to foster adoption. “Understanding regulatory sensitivities and driving responsible innovation is crucial,” he explained.
A Vision for Non-Excludable Financial Infrastructure
Fernández da Ponte also envisions financial infrastructure as a public good, accessible to all without exclusion. He emphasized the need for infrastructure that travels well across geographies, addressing the challenge of outdated systems that exclude entire populations. “We are at a moment where technology can increase speed and reduce costs significantly,” he remarked.
Product-Market Fit and Community Involvement
Discussing product-market fit in blockchain, Fernández da Ponte believes true success lies in technology’s invisibility, where users focus on utility rather than the underlying blockchain. He also stressed the importance of community involvement in maintaining decentralized, accessible financial infrastructure. “The community plays a crucial role in solving problems together,” he asserted.
As he begins his tenure at SDF, Fernández da Ponte is committed to listening to the community and prioritizing distribution to meet user needs. His leadership is expected to accelerate Stellar’s mission of building resilient, globally scalable products.
For more information, visit the official Stellar website.
Image source: Shutterstock
