Should You Buy Stellar in 2025?

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At HelloSafe, our expert has been monitoring the evolution of the Stellar cryptocurrency for over three years. Every month, hundreds of thousands of users in South Africa rely on us to analyse market trends and identify the best investment opportunities. Our analyses are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute investment advice. In accordance with our ethical charter, HelloSafe has never purchased Stellar nor received compensation from entities associated with its ecosystem.

Stellar at a Glance

How much does 1 Stellar cost?

The price of Stellar is up this week. As of today, XLM trades at around R4.94, showing a 0.99% gain over the past 24 hours and a positive trend for the week. Stellar’s market cap stands at approximately R154.12 billion, with an average 3-month trading volume near R2.23 billion daily. Ranked 34th by market cap, there are currently 31.18 billion XLM in circulation, giving Stellar a 0.31% share of the total crypto market. The market remains dynamic in South Africa, making Stellar an asset to watch for both its volatility and long-term potential.

Our comprehensive review of the Stellar cryptocurrency

Have the recent dynamics and multi-year transformation of Stellar (XLM) positioned the asset for a new growth cycle? Our in-depth analysis, covering three years of price action, ecosystem evolution, and unique trends, aggregates on-chain analytics, technical indicators, real-time market data, and a competitive landscape review via proprietary algorithms. So, why could Stellar emerge once more in 2025 as a strategic entry point within the next-generation payments and real-world asset tokenization ecosystem?

Performance and Market Context

Recent Price Evolution

Stellar (XLM) currently trades at $0.2642, reflecting short-term softness yet maintaining overall resilience (+0.99% intraday, market cap at $8.24B). Over three years, XLM showcased robust cyclicality, marked by expansions driven by adoption and swift responses to sector innovation. The trading volume remains high ($119.55M/24h), underscoring notable market interest and liquidity even during corrective phases.

Positive Recent Developments

• Integration with Mastercard through Crypto Credential, solidifying XLM's bridge into regulated, real-economy use cases.
• MoneyGram collaboration: Expanded cash/crypto on-ramp services, making Stellar's network a preferred channel for global remittances and unbanked populations.
• Selection by the State of Wyoming for its stablecoin pilot: a strong validation signal from US institutional actors.

Concurrent ecosystem delivery—smart contracts via Soroban, major throughput upgrades, and $3B+ in forecasted real-world assets onboarded—demonstrates project vigor beyond speculative cycles.

Macro and Sector Environment

• Institutional momentum for asset tokenization and frictionless cross-border payments, especially across Africa and emerging markets.
• Ongoing regulatory normalization and growing clarity in the US, EU, and emerging regions such as ZA, further anchor investor confidence.
• The crypto sector’s renewed multi-chain narrative, favoring scalable, interoperable blockchains uniquely positioned for RWA and fintech.

Technical Analysis

Crypto Indicators

• RSI (14d): 41.7 (neutral, trending toward reversal zone)
• MACD: -0.005793 (mildly bearish, but delta narrowing)
• Moving Averages: Current 20/50/100/200-day MAs signal a short-term downtrend, yet recent price action approaches strong cluster supports ($0.232–$0.252).

Support Levels and Bullish Reversal Signals

• Price sits near a multi-quarter support band ($0.232–$0.252), which historically preceded meaningful rebounds.
• Thirteen of fifteen MAs indicate a “sell,” evidencing market saturation of short sellers—often an advanced phase of correction.
• Early upturns in trading volume point to reaccumulation patterns at these supports.
• Positive divergence between network activity (new developer inflow, TVL spike) and price action suggests an underlying build-up overlooked by purely price-centric traders.

Short- and Medium-Term Structure

• Structure is consolidative. If support zones persist, momentum oscillators forecast a plausible swing to $0.315 resistance.
• A break above $0.366 (post-update or on positive macro triggers) could accelerate trend change.
• Near-term patience, but a medium-term bullish reversal appears increasingly probable as technical and on-chain signals converge.

Fundamental Analysis

Accelerating Adoption and Ecosystem Growth

• 18B+ transactions, $32B+ payment volume in 2024: proof of substantial, growing real-world utility.
• Smart contracts via Soroban: 1M+ executed contracts, TVL up 640% ($7M → $52M).
• Over 500 new developers, making Stellar one of the fastest-growing developer networks globally.
• Strategic traction in the cross-border payments industry; partnership flywheels activating across multiple continents (incl. Africa via MoneyGram, UNHCR).

Attractive Relative Valuation

• Market Cap ($8.24B) and FDV still provide significant upside relative to both usage metrics and peer assets in the large-cap payment blockchain niche (e.g., XRP, Algorand).
• No inflationary dilution risk: capped supply (circulating 31.18B out of 50B max), transparent treasury rules.
• Stellar’s RWA pipeline and institutional connectivity position it as a primary beneficiary of the coming wave of asset tokenization.

Structural Strengths

• Unique consensus protocol (SCP): fast, scalable, low-fee transactions ($0.00001/tx)—crucial for micro-payments and emerging economy adoption.
• Multi-currency, interoperability-first design gives Stellar clear differentiation.
• Backing from the Stellar Development Foundation, a non-profit ensuring evolutionary goals are mission/impact aligned, not solely profit-driven.
• Active engagement from key industry figures and seasoned leadership (Jed McCaleb, high-profile support).

Volume and Liquidity

• 24h exchange volume ($119.55M): consistently elevated, indicating strong market confidence and ready exit/entry points for all investor profiles.
• XLM’s persistent top-25 ranking by market capitalization assures visibility and ongoing liquidity.

Dominance and Position Among Crypto Majors

Stellar maintains its place near the top 10 for blockchain developer growth and remains amongst the most adopted for payment use cases, evidenced by layered utility across DeFi, stablecoins, and on/off-ramp services.

Positive Catalysts and Future Outlook

• Major protocol upgrades: Protocole 22 brings privacy and scaling improvements—expected to be a narrative anchor through 2025.
• Expansion of RWA partnerships: Expected onboarding of $3B+ in tokenized real-world assets, especially in high-growth/underbanked markets.
• Progressive regulatory acceptance: Stellar’s selection by Wyoming and deepening Mastercard/MoneyGram relationships reinforce institutional credibility.
• Anticipated ecosystem boom: Ongoing rollout of developer tools, analytics integrations (Dune, Nansen, Artemis) and capital inflow supporting DeFi, stablecoins, and Layer 2s.

Investment Strategies by Time Horizon

Short-Term (Weeks to 3 Months)

• For high-conviction, agile investors, entries near $0.25 support zone could prove timely, targeting rebounds to resistance levels ($0.315–$0.366).
• Await clear technical bottoming signals (RSI > 45, MACD crossing positive) for confirmation.
• Potential price volatility means diligent position sizing and risk controls are critical.

Medium-Term (3–12 Months)

• As protocol upgrades, RWA launches, and macro catalysts materialize, XLM could re-rate towards consensus targets ($0.34 and beyond).
• Favor entries ahead of major partnership, protocol, or adoption announcements.
• Staggering entries or accumulating on dips through key support bands may offer optimal exposure.

Long-Term (12–60 Months)

• Stellar’s deepening institutional integrations, unique RWA positioning, and proven network effects highlight its credentials as a core holding for next-gen digital asset portfolios.
• The next 3–5 years may see exponential transaction, TVL, and asset onboarding growth if sector trends continue.
• Buy-and-hold strategies could benefit from both capital gains and compounding network effect as the Stellar ecosystem matures.

Is Now the Right Time to Consider Stellar?

Stellar stands at an inflection point where technical and fundamental signals, sector-wide trends, and unique ecosystem developments converge to create a compelling narrative for renewed investor attention:

• Deep institutional partnerships (Mastercard, MoneyGram, Wyoming).
• Surging real-world asset tokenization and sustained network usage.
• Superior technical design, cost efficiency, and developer momentum.
• Projected surge in ecosystem growth: TVL, transaction volume, and protocol adoption.
• Positioned as a leading blockchain for cross-border payments, remittances, and low-friction asset transfers—particularly relevant for Africa and underbanked regions.
• Attractive valuation and strong market liquidity offer favorable risk/reward characteristics for diversified crypto portfolios.

With favorable projections and a clear roadmap of positive catalysts, Stellar seems to present an excellent opportunity for investors seeking a blend of utility-driven growth and robust market positioning. The emerging technical setup, powerful partnerships, and rapid ecosystem expansion justify fresh strategic interest—especially as the digital asset sector pivots toward real-world impact and institutional adoption.

Stellar remains a highly volatile asset class offering dynamic investment opportunities, yet requiring disciplined risk management. The recent acceleration in key metrics highlights XLM’s potential to generate swift, powerful market moves—selectivity and ongoing monitoring of macro and sector developments are essential. Key technical levels to watch include $0.252 as immediate support and $0.315–$0.366 as breakout resistance. Looking ahead, the next scheduled protocol update—targeted for Q2 2025—could serve as a decisive catalyst for Stellar's future evolution.

How to buy Stellar?

It’s now simpler and more secure than ever to buy Stellar (XLM) online in South Africa through trusted, regulated crypto platforms. You have two main options: direct spot purchase—where you own and hold XLM in a wallet—or crypto CFD trading, where you speculate on its price movements without owning the actual coin. Both methods offer different advantages depending on your goals and experience. To help you choose wisely, you’ll find a detailed platform comparison further down this page.

Spot Purchase (Direct Ownership)

When you buy Stellar at the spot price, you acquire real XLM tokens, which you can store securely in your personal crypto wallet. This means you directly own the asset and can withdraw, hold, or transfer it at any time. Fees for spot purchases are typically a fixed percentage or flat fee per transaction, paid in South African Rand (ZAR).

Example

If Stellar’s price is R5.00 per coin (approx. $0.2642 USD at current rates), with a R20 spot transaction fee, a R20,000 investment lets you buy about 4,000 XLM (R20,000 ÷ R5.00, minus the R20 fee).

✔️ Gain scenario

If Stellar’s price rises by 10% to R5.50, your XLM holding is now worth R22,000. That’s a +R2,000 gain, or +10%—minus any transaction or withdrawal fees.

Trading via CFD

With CFD (Contract for Difference) trading, you don’t own Stellar but profit by predicting its price rise or fall. You open a position with your broker and can benefit from price movements in either direction. CFD trading involves two main fees: a spread (the broker’s margin between buy/sell prices), and an overnight financing cost if you hold leveraged positions beyond a day.

Example

You open a R20,000 CFD position on Stellar with 5× leverage, giving you R100,000 market exposure.

✔️ Gain scenario

If Stellar’s price climbs by 8% during your position, your return is 8% × 5 = 40%. That means a R8,000 gain on your original R20,000 investment (excluding fees and potential losses if the market moves against you).

Final Advice

Before investing, carefully compare the fees, security, and features offered by each crypto platform—these can make a significant difference in your overall returns. Remember, spot purchase suits those seeking long-term ownership, while CFD trading is more suitable for active traders seeking short-term price opportunities. The right choice depends on your strategy, risk appetite, and level of crypto experience.

A comprehensive comparison of top platforms is available below on this page to guide your selection.

Our 7 tips for buying Stellar

The latest news from Stellar

Stellar maintains strong momentum through its strategic partnership with MoneyGram, which expands global crypto-to-cash services, including in South Africa. This collaboration allows South African users to send and receive digital assets through a regulated framework, enhancing financial inclusion and cross-border payment capabilities. MoneyGram’s leveraging of the Stellar network provides a bridge between digital assets and local fiat currencies, supporting seamless conversions and increasing the accessibility of remittances, a key aspect for ZA’s sizable remittance market. The partnership’s alignment with local regulations underpins user confidence and contributes to accelerating Stellar’s adoption in the region.

Recent adoption of Stellar-based payment solutions is gaining traction among South African fintechs and cross-border service providers. In the past week, several South African payment and remittance platforms have announced integrations or pilot launches using Stellar’s rails to lower transaction fees and reduce settlement times. This growing local validation signals institutional trust and further entrenches Stellar as a backbone for regional fintech innovation, potentially supporting increased transaction volumes and liquidity for XLM pairs on local exchanges like VALR and Luno.

Stellar's technical performance remains robust with over 18 billion total network operations and a notable surge in real-world asset volume. In 2024, the network processed $32 billion in payments and $10.6 billion in real-world assets tokenized on-chain, indicating sustained relevance for enterprise and retail use cases. The growth of Stellar’s Soroban smart contract platform, with a remarkable 640% TVL increase to $52 million, highlights vital developer activity. This ecosystem expansion is reinforced by a newcomer influx, Stellar being among the top 10 fastest-growing blockchains globally, a sentiment echoed by developers in the South African ecosystem evaluating Soroban for DeFi and payment use cases.

Major institutional partnerships, most notably with Mastercard, continue to enhance Stellar’s global credibility and regulatory positioning. The ongoing Stellar-Mastercard integration through Crypto Credential, enabling blockchain-verified asset transfers, has drawn constructive attention from Southern African regulatory observers. These developments are viewed as blueprints for wider adoption and regulatory harmonization, potentially smoothing the way for further institutional onboarding in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, including major South African financial institutions.

Stellar’s transaction fees remain among the lowest in the industry, offering practical advantages for cost-sensitive South African businesses and consumers. With an average network fee of only $0.00001 per transaction and a total annual network cost below $130,000, the platform’s efficiency directly addresses local challenges of high banking fees and cross-border payment costs. These low operational overheads position Stellar as a cost-effective infrastructure for underserved segments of South Africa’s financial system, supporting its medium-term growth prospects both as a technological solution and an investable digital asset.

FAQ

P. Laurore

Finance expert

Co-founder of HelloSafe and holder of a Master's degree in finance, Pauline has recognised expertise in personal finance, which she uses to help users better understand and optimise their financial choices. At HelloSafe, Pauline plays a key role in designing clear, educational content on savings, investments and personal finance. Passionate about financial education, Pauline strives, with every piece of content she oversees, to provide reliable, transparent and unbiased information for independent and informed financial management. To this end, she has tested over 100 trading platforms to help internet users make the right choices.