Latest Stellar (XLM) News Update

By CMC AI
31 December 2025 08:16AM (UTC+0)

What is the latest news on XLM?

TLDR

Stellar navigates mixed signals as partnerships boost utility while market pressures test resilience. Here are the latest updates:

  1. Stellar Joins ERC-3643 for RWA Growth (14 August 2025) – Strengthening compliant asset tokenization and cross-chain interoperability.

  2. Tokenized Assets Surge on Stellar (30 December 2025) – Dominates 50% of tokenized equity infrastructure via low-cost compliance.

  3. XLM Tests Critical Support (27 December 2025) – Price hovers near $0.21 amid bearish technical signals.

Deep Dive

1. Stellar Joins ERC-3643 for RWA Growth (14 August 2025)

Overview:
Stellar joined the ERC-3643 Association, aligning with Ethereum-based standards to enhance cross-chain compatibility for regulated real-world assets (RWAs). This move aims to streamline tokenization of equities, bonds, and commodities while maintaining compliance.

What this means:
This is bullish for XLM as it positions Stellar as a bridge between TradFi and DeFi, attracting institutions seeking compliant blockchain solutions. However, adoption depends on regulatory clarity and enterprise uptake.
(Stellar)

2. Tokenized Assets Surge on Stellar (30 December 2025)

Overview:
Stellar hosts 50% of tokenized equity infrastructure, per a Cointribune report, driven by partnerships with Visa and PayPal. Its ISO 20022 compliance and low fees ($0.000005/tx) appeal to institutions tokenizing stocks and ETFs.

What this means:
This reinforces Stellar’s niche in institutional DeFi, but XLM’s price hasn’t mirrored this growth—spotlighting a disconnect between utility and speculative demand.
(Cointribune)

3. XLM Tests Critical Support (27 December 2025)

Overview:
XLM broke below $0.225 support, testing $0.21 amid declining volume and bearish technicals (RSI: 45.6, below all key moving averages). Analysts warn a drop to $0.102 is possible if buyers fail to defend $0.21.

What this means:
This is neutral-to-bearish short-term, reflecting broader market uncertainty. However, the $0.21–$0.22 zone has historically attracted accumulation, suggesting potential for a reversal if sentiment improves.
(CoinMarketCap)

Conclusion

Stellar’s strategic moves in RWA tokenization and cross-chain interoperability contrast with its price struggles, highlighting a market yet to price in its institutional traction. Will 2026 see XLM decouple from macro headwinds as adoption scales?

What are people saying about XLM?

TLDR

Stellar's community oscillates between cautious optimism and technical skepticism. Here’s what’s trending:

  1. Price predictions split – $0.30 near-term targets vs. warnings of deeper corrections

  2. Institutional adoption heats up – Visa/MoneyGram integrations and RWA tokenization in focus

  3. Technical tug-of-war – Bullish MACD divergences clash with bearish volume trends

  4. Network upgrades loom – Protocol 23’s scalability improvements could reignite momentum


Deep Dive

1. @bpaynews: $0.30 Rally Hinges on $0.22 Support bullish

"XLM price prediction points to $0.30 target within 4-6 weeks as #Stellar shows bullish MACD divergence despite current consolidation near critical $0.22 support."
– @bpaynews (2K followers · 751K impressions · 24 Dec 2025 07:23 UTC)
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What this means: This is bullish for XLM because MACD divergence often precedes trend reversals, with the $0.22 level acting as make-or-break support.

2. @BlockchainNewsM: Bearish Momentum Threatens Recovery mixed

"XLM Price Prediction: Stellar Targets $0.30 Breakout Within 30 Days Despite Current Bearish Momentum"
– @BlockchainNewsM (6.4K followers · 1.1K impressions · 21 Dec 2025 12:41 UTC)
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What this means: This is neutral because while analysts see upside potential, declining volumes (-62.7% weekly) and Bitcoin dominance (59.1%) create headwinds.

3. @sharkcryptogrp: $0.232 Target if Support Holds bullish

"If price holds $0.207-$0.210 zone, long entry to $0.232 looks valid"
– @sharkcryptogrp (749 followers · 34.8K impressions · 25 Dec 2025 21:30 UTC)
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What this means: This is bullish as the analysis identifies precise support/resistance levels, though XLM’s -31.59% 60-day performance warrants caution.

4. @akandeolamilek7: $1+ Forecast Tied to Adoption bullish

"Predictions suggest XLM could test $1+ in medium term if adoption accelerates"
– @akandeolamilek7 (1.4K followers · 7K impressions · 26 Dec 2025 19:35 UTC)
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What this means: This is cautiously bullish, contingent on Stellar’s real-world asset partnerships gaining traction against rivals like Ripple.


Conclusion

The consensus on XLM is mixed, with technical analysts eyeing a $0.22-$0.30 range battle while long-term believers cite institutional adoption through Visa collabs and $445M in tokenized Treasuries. Watch the $0.22 support level this week – a breakdown could validate bearish MACD signals, while a hold might confirm the bullish reversal narrative.

What is the latest update in XLM’s codebase?

TLDR

Stellar's codebase saw major upgrades in late 2025, focusing on scalability, interoperability, and privacy.

  1. LayerZero Integration (30 December 2025) – Enables cross-chain asset transfers across 150+ blockchains.

  2. Protocol 23 Upgrade (3 September 2025) – Boosts smart contract efficiency and transaction throughput.

  3. Protocol X-Ray (24 November 2025) – Prepares for zero-knowledge privacy features in early 2026.

Deep Dive

1. LayerZero Integration (30 December 2025)

Overview: Stellar integrated LayerZero’s cross-chain messaging protocol, allowing seamless transfers of assets like USDC between 150+ blockchains.

This upgrade enhances Stellar’s role in cross-border payments by reducing friction in multi-chain transactions. The integration includes standardized APIs for developers to build cross-chain dApps, with initial support for Ethereum, Solana, and Cosmos ecosystems.

What this means: This is bullish for XLM because it positions Stellar as a hub for interoperable DeFi and enterprise solutions. Users benefit from faster, cheaper cross-chain swaps. (Source)

2. Protocol 23 Upgrade (3 September 2025)

Overview: Protocol 23 introduced parallel execution for Soroban smart contracts, reducing gas costs by ~40% and enabling 5,000 TPS.

Key changes included moving contract state to RAM, optimizing module caching, and adding unified event formatting for developers. Validators can now adjust network latency settings, improving consensus flexibility.

What this means: This is neutral-to-bullish for XLM. While it strengthens Stellar’s DeFi capabilities, adoption depends on dApp migration to Soroban. Node operators must upgrade to avoid compatibility issues. (Source)

3. Protocol X-Ray (24 November 2025)

Overview: Announced as a Q1 2026 upgrade, Protocol X-Ray adds native zk-SNARKs via BN254 and Poseidon hashing to Soroban.

Developers can now build privacy-preserving apps (e.g., confidential payments) with minimal overhead. Testnet launches on 7 January 2026, with mainnet activation planned for 22 January.

What this means: This is bullish for XLM long-term, as privacy features could attract institutional use cases. However, regulatory scrutiny around anonymity tools remains a risk. (Source)

Conclusion

Stellar’s late 2025 updates signal a strategic pivot toward scalable DeFi infrastructure and cross-chain interoperability, while Protocol X-Ray lays groundwork for enterprise-grade privacy. With Visa and MoneyGram already leveraging its network, can Stellar become the default settlement layer for hybrid TradFi-DeFi systems?

What is next on XLM’s roadmap?

TLDR

Stellar’s roadmap focuses on scalability, enterprise adoption, and cross-chain interoperability. Key milestones:

  1. Protocol 23 Mainnet Enhancements (Q3 2025) – Scalability upgrades targeting 5,000 TPS.

  2. LayerZero Integration (Q4 2025) – Interoperability with 150+ blockchains.

  3. Freighter Wallet Mobile Launch (Q4 2025) – Enhanced security and single-use wallets.

  4. Enterprise Payment Solutions (2026) – Simplified on-chain business transactions.

  5. RWA & Stablecoin Expansion (2026) – Tokenized assets and PYUSD integration.


Deep Dive

1. Protocol 23 Mainnet Enhancements (Q3 2025)

Overview:
Protocol 23, implemented in September 2025, introduced parallel execution for Soroban smart contracts, boosting throughput to 5,000 TPS and reducing fees. It also added Unified Asset Events for better transaction tracking (The Defiant).

What this means:
This is bullish for XLM as higher throughput attracts developers and institutions. However, adoption risks remain if competing chains (e.g., Solana) maintain dominance.


2. LayerZero Integration (Q4 2025)

Overview:
Stellar partnered with LayerZero to enable cross-chain transfers of assets like USDC across 150+ blockchains, enhancing its role in cross-border payments (Scopuly).

What this means:
This integration is neutral-to-bullish. While it boosts utility, success depends on actual adoption by fintechs and financial institutions.


3. Freighter Wallet Mobile Launch (Q4 2025)

Overview:
The Freighter Wallet’s mobile version will feature authentication upgrades and single-use wallets for seamless crypto payouts (NewsBTC).

What this means:
Bullish for user growth, especially in emerging markets. Simplified onboarding could drive retail adoption but faces competition from established wallets like MetaMask.


4. Enterprise Payment Solutions (2026)

Overview:
Stellar plans to launch “Hosted Mode” for businesses, allowing single-click payments without full blockchain integration, targeting enterprises in remittances and tokenized assets (U.Today).

What this means:
Bullish if enterprise adoption materializes. Partnerships with Visa and MoneyGram signal credibility, but regulatory hurdles could delay progress.


5. RWA & Stablecoin Expansion (2026)

Overview:
Stellar aims to grow its $460M+ RWA sector, with Franklin Templeton’s tokenized U.S. Treasuries and PayPal’s PYUSD stablecoin integration (Yahoo Finance).

What this means:
Bullish long-term. RWAs align with institutional demand, but success hinges on macroeconomic stability and regulatory clarity.


Conclusion

Stellar’s 2025–2026 roadmap prioritizes technical upgrades, interoperability, and real-world utility. The LayerZero integration and enterprise tools could position XLM as a bridge between TradFi and DeFi. However, competition and adoption rates remain critical variables. Will Stellar’s focus on compliance and scalability finally unlock its institutional potential?

CMC AI can make mistakes. Not financial advice.