In a significant move for cryptocurrency adoption, IRL, a cultural activation platform, has successfully onboarded thousands of participants onto the Stellar (XLM) blockchain during major events such as Meridian Rio and Stellar House Miami. Remarkably, many attendees were unaware they were engaging with crypto technology.
This initiative, supported by Stellar”s SCF Build Award program, highlights an innovative strategy for mainstream adoption: making blockchain technology seamless and invisible to users. “This partnership wasn”t a leap of faith—it was built on the Stellar network”s decade-long reputation for building blockchain solutions that actually work in the real world,” stated Malcolm, the founder of IRL. “Since 2014, Stellar has been quietly powering global payments and financial systems for millions of people who”ve never had to think about what blockchain is.”
IRL”s choice of the Stellar network was based on critical practicalities that matter in high-volume environments. The platform opted for Stellar due to its rapid transaction speeds, affordability that allows for rewarding each attendee, and reliability during peak traffic times. This efficient processing meant that users could focus on enjoying the cultural experiences rather than dealing with wallet confirmations or gas fees. Malcolm referred to this invisibility as “the highest compliment in culture,” which marks a significant shift from the traditional crypto approach characterized by aggressive branding and intricate user interfaces.
Looking ahead, IRL is not limiting its efforts to just two cities. The platform revealed plans for expansions into major urban centers, including New York, Toronto, Amsterdam, Berlin, Singapore, Buenos Aires, and Mexico City. Each new location signifies an opportunity to introduce potential users to cryptocurrency who may never consider downloading a crypto wallet independently.
This expansion coincides with Stellar”s newly enhanced funding infrastructure. Launched in January 2026, the SCF 7.0 program offers Build Awards of up to $150,000 in XLM across several milestones. The program is segmented into Integration, Open, and RFP tracks—IRL”s approach to cultural onboarding likely aligns with the Open track aimed at fostering innovative functionalities within the Stellar ecosystem.
The implications of this initiative extend beyond just one partnership. The cryptocurrency sector has long grappled with how to engage mainstream audiences effectively. Traditional methods like airdrops often attract opportunists, while complex decentralized finance (DeFi) interfaces can deter everyday users. IRL”s tactic elegantly bypasses these issues, allowing users to participate in events they would normally attend, receive rewards they can choose to utilize or ignore, all without needing to comprehend technical details like consensus mechanisms or seed phrases. If participants eventually recognize they have crypto assets, it becomes an added benefit rather than an entry barrier.
As IRL sets its sights on eight major cities, the collaboration with Stellar indicates a bold bet that the most effective blockchain interactions are those that go unnoticed.
