
Key Takeaways
- While technically possible, a $1 Stellar (XLM) price would require a nearly 2.5Ă— increase in market cap.Â
- Stellar is becoming a popular choice for stablecoins and remittance payments.
What is Stellar?Â
Stellar (XLM) is a blockchain designed in 2014. Stellar allows users to send digital representations of currencies like the dollar, the Euro, and even cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin!Â
In 2025, Stellar is growing as stablecoin usage surges in emerging markets. In addition, companies like PayPal have issued stablecoins on the Stellar blockchain.Â
Can XLM reach $1?Â
Currently trading around $0.40 with approximately 31.3 billion XLM in circulation, a $1 price implies a $31 billion market cap. That's up from today’s roughly $12.6 billion.
Here’s how that compares to today’s crypto valuations:Â
- Bitcoin: ~$2.3 trillion
- Ethereum: ~$0.5 trillion‍
- Total crypto market: ~$4 trillion
- Stellar today: ~$12.6 billion
Given that it would still be significantly smaller than cryptocurrencies like BTC and ETH, $1 XLM is well within the realm of possibility. It’s important to note that XLM has come close to this price in the past, with an all-time high of $0.94 in 2018.Â
However, it would require a surge in adoption for Stellar.Â
Why is Stellar’s price moving up?Â
- Partnerships: Trusted companies are now using Stellar. PayPal’s PYUSD stablecoin and SocGen’s EURCV token have both been launched in recent years.Â
- Network upgrades: Stellar’s upcoming upgrade, Protocol 23, aims to make the blockchain faster and more reliable. This would enhance user experience without raising costs or hardware needs for users.Â
- Rising usage: Usage on Stellar is rising, as more investors in emerging markets turn to stablecoins for fast, cheap, and reliable payments.Â
- Political tailwinds: It’s likely that XLM’s price is benefitting from President Trump’s crypto-friendly policies. In addition, the GENIUS Act will likely lead to increased adoption for stablecoins.Â
Why hasn’t XLM reached its all-time high?Â
Stellar’s peak (around $0.94) dates back to January 2018. Here’s why XLM hasn’t reached that level since then:Â
- Less hype-driven speculation than blockchains that offer decentralized apps, since Stellar operates in the backgroundÂ
- A large total supply (~50 billion) requires significantly more demand to push prices up.
- Strong competition from other blockchains that enable stablecoin transfers, like Ethereum and TronÂ
Is Stellar a good investment?Â
Let’s look at the pros and cons of investing in Stellar:Â
Pros:
- Increased institutional usageÂ
- Upcoming upgrades to enhance speed and usabilityÂ
- Consistently low fees make it attractive for remittances and payments
Risks:
- Adoption is still slower than more developer-focused platforms like Ethereum
- Price growth depends on continued real-world usage, not speculation
- Competition from other blockchains that are used for stablecoin transfers like TRON
Should I invest in XLM?: XLM is best for investors who believe that Stellar could be the rails for a low-cost stablecoin infrastructure. It’s less appealing for short-term traders or those interested in blockchains with a thriving DeFi ecosystem.Â
Conclusion
$1 XLM is optimistic, but it’s within reach if institutional adoption and usability progress continue. It’s possible that Stellar may carve out a distinct niche as a stablecoin provider.
Frequently asked questions
- Could Stellar realistically reach $1?
Possible, but not without increased real-world usage. It would require a surge in demand to justify a ~$31B valuation.
- What are the biggest catalysts for XLM?
What are the biggest catalysts for XLM? The biggest catalysts for XLM are stablecoins launching on Stellar and the Protocol 23 upgrade for faster, smoother performance.
- What are the main risks?
The main risks of XLM are competition from other blockchains and reliance on continued institutional adoption.
- Is XLM going to skyrocket?
It’s impossible to make long-term predictions for any cryptocurrency. It’s possible that XLM’s price could grow if it becomes the dominant blockchain for stablecoins in the future.
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