- Stellar plans to welcome top global payment and asset management firms while upgrading its network with Protocol 23.
- XLM trades near $0.378, with investors watching for a breakout on confirmed partnerships.
The Stellar Development Foundation (SDF) is preparing for a decisive move into mainstream finance, with leadership hinting that some of the world’s biggest payment and asset management companies will soon launch on the network. This bold shift comes as XLM, Stellar’s native token, trades near $0.378, leaving investors wondering whether upcoming announcements will spark a price breakout.
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Payments Giants Prepare to Join Stellar
Stellar’s President & Chief Growth Officer José Fernández da Ponte, speaking with SDF CEO Denelle Dixon, described Stellar as “the blockchain for financial services at scale” and revealed that major payment and asset management firms will begin operating on the network in the coming months.
Backing this claim, Fernández da Ponte highlighted impressive growth: while DeFi’s total value locked (TVL) doubled over the past year, Stellar’s TVL surged ninefold. He credited community-driven wallets, open-source protocols, and Stellar’s permissionless infrastructure for this rapid adoption.
Stablecoins and Protocol 23 Drive Expansion
Dixon emphasized that the first half of 2025 was about building foundations, while the remainder of the year will focus on acceleration. She spotlighted Stellar’s stablecoin strategy, including PayPal’s PYUSD integration, which is still pending regulatory approval. The expansion of stablecoins remains central to Stellar’s push into mainstream payments.
On the technical side, Stellar’s upcoming upgrade—Protocol 23—aims to deliver faster processing, improved throughput, and better support for developers using Soroban smart contracts. These improvements are designed to meet institutional-grade expectations as new enterprises join the network.
All Eyes on Meridian Conference
SDF plans to unveil more concrete updates at its annual Meridian conference on September 17–18 in Rio de Janeiro. The event brings together developers, policymakers, and enterprise partners, aligning perfectly with the “coming weeks” timeline mentioned by leadership. While no specific names were disclosed, anticipation is building for announcements that could reshape Stellar’s position in global finance.
Will XLM Price React?
Despite the excitement, XLM’s price has yet to reflect the integration buzz. Trading near $0.378, the token remains below its summer high of $0.52.
Analysts, however, see bullish potential. According to market strategist Crypto Patel, XLM’s recent dip into a demand zone could trigger a strong rebound, with $0.4143 serving as the next liquidity target.
The market waits for Stellar to deliver high-profile partnerships and launch PYUSD, which could prime XLM for its next leg higher.
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