Which partner enabled Visa on XLM?

Wirex has partnered to enable Visa payment settlements on the Stellar (XLM) network, using stablecoins USDC and EURC on Stellar’s blockchain system. Wirex announcement

1. The Stellar Foundation confirmed that Wirex is settling Visa payments on Stellar for over 7 million users. Stellar post
2. This new system supports round-the-clock stablecoin settlements with lower fees and faster processing times. confirmation
3. It connects Visa payment acceptance directly with blockchain settlement, bypassing traditional banking systems. Stellar post

Deep Dive

1. Partner and Role

Wirex is handling Visa payment settlements on the Stellar network using USDC and EURC stablecoins. This means payments made through Visa merchants can now be settled using these digital currencies on Stellar’s blockchain. The Stellar Foundation highlighted that this service is available to over 7 million users and emphasized that settlements happen directly on the blockchain. Wirex announcement | Stellar post

What this means: If you use Wirex’s Visa-linked services, your payments settle on Stellar using stablecoins, which could make transactions faster and cheaper compared to traditional card payment systems.

2. What “Visa On Stellar” Means

“Visa On Stellar” means that payments accepted by Visa are settled on the Stellar blockchain using Circle’s USDC and EURC stablecoins. This allows settlements to happen 24/7 with programmable features and fewer delays or fees than traditional banking systems. The public announcement confirms that this system does not rely on old banking infrastructure and is always available. Stellar confirmation | Stellar post

What this means: Merchants continue to accept Visa as usual, but the money settlement behind the scenes happens faster and more efficiently on Stellar using stablecoins, potentially speeding up payouts and lowering costs.

3. Scale and Implications

Wirex holds key memberships with both Visa and Mastercard, showing it has the capacity to support large-scale payment integrations worldwide. This launch targets millions of users with continuous, 24/7 settlement, marking a significant step toward combining mainstream card payments with blockchain-based settlement. Wirex note | Stellar post

What this means: This development opens the door for many everyday payments to move part of their value flow onto Stellar’s blockchain, improving settlement speed and expanding the practical use of stablecoins.

Conclusion

Wirex has enabled Visa payment settlements on the Stellar network using USDC and EURC stablecoins, a fact confirmed by both Wirex and the Stellar Foundation. Wirex announcement | Stellar confirmation This innovation links familiar Visa payment acceptance with blockchain-based, 24/7 stablecoin settlement, potentially lowering costs and speeding up transactions for millions of users.

What could affect the price of XLM?

Stellar’s price is currently caught between exciting technology upgrades, growing real-world use, and broader market challenges.

1. Protocol 23 Upgrade – Boosts network speed and capacity, which could increase demand from decentralized finance (DeFi) and real-world asset projects.
2. Altcoin Market Downturn – Bitcoin’s rising dominance and outflows from exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are putting pressure on Stellar’s price.
3. Big Investor Activity – Large transfers of $36 million worth of XLM to exchanges suggest potential short-term risks.

Deep Dive

1. Protocol 23’s Scalability Push (Positive Outlook)

Overview:
Since September 2025, Stellar’s Protocol 23 upgrade has improved the network by allowing multiple smart contracts to run at the same time and increasing transaction capacity to 5,000 per second. This upgrade targets growth in DeFi and tokenized real-world assets (RWAs). Stellar has recently partnered with Visa for stablecoin payments and with Turbo Energy to finance solar projects using tokens (CoinDesk).

What this means:
Faster and more scalable technology makes Stellar attractive to institutions interested in tokenizing assets, which already total $522 million on the network. Past upgrades, like Soroban in 2024, led to price increases over 2-3 months, though some investors took profits afterward, limiting gains.

2. Altcoin Market Downturn (Negative Outlook)

Overview:
Over the past 90 days, Stellar’s price has fallen 44%, worse than Bitcoin’s 23% drop and Ethereum’s 18%. The crypto Fear & Greed Index is at 11 out of 100, indicating “Extreme Fear,” while Bitcoin’s market share reached 58.3%, the highest in a year (CMC Global Metrics).

What this means:
Money is flowing into Bitcoin-focused ETFs, which now manage $127 billion, leaving fewer funds for altcoins like Stellar. Until the market sentiment improves, Stellar may continue to struggle despite its strong technology and partnerships.

3. Big Investor Activity (Mixed Outlook)

Overview:
On November 21, three large wallets moved 162 million XLM (about $36 million) to Coinbase (U.Today). At the same time, the top 1% of Stellar holders increased their share of the circulating supply to 61.8% in Q3 2025 (Stellar Q3 Report).

What this means:
Large holders might be preparing to sell, which could increase short-term risk. However, their growing control also means less XLM is available for trading. The recent jump in daily trading volume to $291 million suggests retail investors are buying on price dips, adding volatility.

Conclusion

Stellar’s outlook for 2026 depends on whether the Protocol 23 upgrade can drive real-world asset adoption before broader market pressures worsen. Watch the $0.22 price level closely—a drop below could trigger further declines toward $0.18. On the upside, closing above the 30-day moving average at $0.251 might indicate renewed buying interest.

Will Stellar’s partnerships with major companies be enough to counteract the “Bitcoin ETF vacuum” that’s pulling money away from altcoins?

What are people saying about XLM?

The Stellar (XLM) community is divided between optimism for a price breakout and concerns about a potential drop, especially with the upcoming Protocol 23 upgrade. Here’s what’s trending:

1. Traders are watching $0.40 as a key price level
2. Protocol 23’s mainnet launch brings hope for better scalability
3. Partnerships with Visa and MoneyGram boost real-world use cases

Deep Dive

1. @johnmorganFL: $0.40 resistance battle heats up (mixed)

“XLM is facing a critical test at $0.42 resistance – if it falls below $0.395, a drop is likely, but breaking above could lead to a 25% rally.”
– @johnmorganFL (35.1K followers · 21.6K likes · 2025-08-13 13:50 UTC)
View original post
What this means: This is a neutral signal for XLM. Traders are waiting to see if the price will break higher or fall lower. The $0.42 to $0.395 range is now a key area where buyers and sellers are active.

2. @argosaki: ISO 20022 compliance & corporate partnerships (bullish)

“With partnerships like Visa and MoneyGram, XLM is becoming the backbone for silver-backed digital payments in developing countries.”
– @argosaki (76.2K followers · 290K likes · 2025-10-06 01:03 UTC)
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What this means: This is positive news for XLM. These big partnerships show that XLM’s technology is being used for real-world cross-border payments. However, the price might not react immediately as these deals take time to fully impact the market.

3. CoinMarketCap Community: Protocol 23 upgrade splits opinion (mixed)

“The Q3 2025 scalability upgrade could push XLM to $0.50 or cause volatility if it doesn’t go as planned.”
– CoinMarketCap Community Post (367K views · 2025-08-19 16:44 UTC)
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What this means: This is neutral for now. If Protocol 23 works well, it could lower transaction costs by 40% based on testnet results. But how the market will react is still unclear.

Conclusion

The outlook for Stellar (XLM) is mixed. On one hand, strong partnerships with major financial companies support its long-term value. On the other, technical challenges around the $0.40 price level are creating uncertainty. The key event to watch is the Protocol 23 mainnet launch, expected in late November 2025. A clear price move above $0.42 after this could signal a strong upward trend for XLM in the last quarter of the year. Keep an eye on the $0.40–$0.42 range—closing above or below this band on a weekly basis will likely shape XLM’s near-term direction.

What is the latest news about XLM?

Stellar is navigating large investor sell-offs and regulatory developments while keeping an eye on SWIFT’s move toward blockchain technology.

1. Large Sell-Off to Coinbase (November 21, 2025) – $36 million worth of XLM was transferred to Coinbase, sparking concerns about a price drop.
2. SWIFT’s Blockchain Pilot Programs (November 19, 2025) – Stellar is part of SWIFT’s tests for improving cross-border payments using the ISO 20022 messaging standard.
3. Price Support Breaks Down (November 19, 2025) – XLM fell below a key price level of $0.252, indicating potential further declines.

Deep Dive

1. Large Sell-Off to Coinbase (November 21, 2025)

What happened:
About 162.3 million Stellar (XLM), worth $36 million, was moved to Coinbase in just three quick transactions. This happened while the price of XLM dropped 10.6% to $0.2242. Trading volume also jumped 58%, suggesting that big investors, often called “whales,” might be selling their holdings.

Why it matters:
This is a negative sign for XLM in the short term because heavy selling can push prices down further. However, some smaller investors may be buying the dip, which could help stabilize the price if this buying continues. (U.Today)

2. SWIFT’s Blockchain Pilot Programs (November 19, 2025)

What happened:
SWIFT, the global network used by banks for international payments, is testing blockchain technology to improve cross-border transactions. Stellar is part of these tests, focusing on the ISO 20022 messaging standard, which is set to be fully adopted by November 22, 2025. This includes work on tokenized assets and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).

Why it matters:
This is a positive development for Stellar in the long run. While these are still tests and not full implementations, SWIFT’s involvement gives Stellar more credibility for use in big financial institutions. However, it’s unclear when these pilots will turn into real-world applications. (Finance Magnates)

3. Price Support Breaks Down (November 19, 2025)

What happened:
The price of XLM fell below an important support level of $0.252, dropping 1.6% during the day. Trading volume spiked to 36.3 million XLM, indicating strong selling pressure from institutional investors. Now, the price faces resistance at $0.26.

Why it matters:
This technical breakdown suggests bearish momentum, meaning the price could continue to fall. The next support level is around $0.2449. To reverse this downtrend, XLM needs to climb back above $0.26. (Yahoo Finance)

Conclusion

Stellar is currently facing challenges from large investor sell-offs and technical price weakness. However, its involvement in SWIFT’s blockchain experiments keeps it strategically important. Upcoming upgrades in Protocol 23, which will improve smart contracts and scalability, could help offset selling pressure as the market watches how SWIFT’s blockchain plans develop.

What is expected in the development of XLM?

Stellar is making steady progress with these key updates:

1. Protocol 24 (ZK & Privacy) (2026) – Introducing privacy upgrades using zero-knowledge proofs.
2. Enterprise Payment Solutions (Q1 2026) – Making cross-border payments easier and faster for businesses.
3. Freighter Wallet 2.0 (Q4 2025) – Adding stronger security and user-friendly features for companies.

In-Depth Look

1. Protocol 24 (ZK & Privacy) (2026)

What’s happening:
Stellar’s upcoming Protocol 24 upgrade will bring zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs, a technology that enhances privacy by allowing transactions to be verified without revealing sensitive details. This builds on improvements from the previous Protocol 23 (Nethermind). The goal is to make Stellar a top choice for secure and private transactions, especially for businesses dealing with digital assets.

Why it matters:
This upgrade could make Stellar (XLM) more attractive to companies that need privacy in international payments. However, delays or regulatory challenges could slow down how quickly it’s adopted.

2. Enterprise Payment Solutions (Q1 2026)

What’s happening:
Stellar is working with major financial institutions to use its blockchain for fast, low-cost payments between businesses. It’s testing compatibility with SWIFT’s ISO 20022 messaging standard, which is widely used in traditional banking (Finance Magnates). This helps Stellar connect smoothly with existing payment systems.

Why it matters:
This could boost Stellar’s use in business payments, but it faces strong competition from other blockchain projects like Ripple (XRP) and Hedera (HBAR).

3. Freighter Wallet 2.0 (Q4 2025)

What’s happening:
The Freighter Wallet, Stellar’s digital wallet, will get new features such as social media logins, one-time-use wallets for things like payroll, and better support for Soroban smart contracts (Coindesk). These changes aim to make using crypto easier for people who aren’t tech experts.

Why it matters:
Better wallet features could encourage more people and businesses to use Stellar (XLM). Success depends on how well it integrates with current financial tools.

Conclusion

Stellar’s roadmap combines cutting-edge tech (like zero-knowledge proofs in Protocol 24) with practical solutions for businesses (payment systems and wallet upgrades). While recent price drops reflect a tough market for altcoins, improvements in privacy and compliance could help Stellar regain momentum. Will Protocol 24’s privacy features help Stellar stand out against competitors like Ethereum and Solana?

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What updates are there in the XLM code base?

Stellar’s software received important upgrades and fixes in late 2025.

1. Protocol 24 Preparation (October 2025) – Operators running Stellar nodes need to update their software to support new privacy features and better data access.
2. Protocol 23 “Whisk” (September 2025) – This update improved how smart contracts run in parallel and made event logging easier for developers.
3. State Archival Bug Fix (November 2025) – A critical fix was applied to resolve network issues caused by a bug in storing contract data.

Deep Dive

1. Protocol 24 Preparation (October 2025)

Overview: By October 22, 2025, all Stellar node operators must upgrade to Stellar Core version 24.0.0rc2. This prepares the network for Protocol 24, which focuses on enhancing privacy and speeding up data retrieval.

Details: The upgrade adds support for zero-knowledge proofs (a privacy technology) and allows easier testing using Docker containers. Validators will vote on activating Protocol 24 on October 22, and it will go live once enough agree. Important changes include new transaction fee rules and improvements to how data is organized using Merkle trees.

What this means: This is positive news for Stellar (XLM) because it sets the stage for advanced privacy features and faster access to blockchain data. Node operators must update to stay connected to the network.
(Source)

2. Protocol 23 “Whisk” (September 2025)

Overview: Activated on September 3, 2025, Protocol 23 introduced the ability to run multiple smart contracts at the same time and standardized how events are logged.

Details: This update increased the network’s capacity to handle up to 5,000 transactions per second by allowing simultaneous execution of Soroban smart contracts. It also made event logs consistent, helping developers debug issues about 40% faster.

What this means: In the short term, this update had a neutral effect on XLM’s price. While the network became more scalable, the market didn’t react strongly because institutional adoption signals were still slow to appear.
(Source)

3. State Archival Bug Fix (November 2025)

Overview: On November 8, 2025, a critical bug in Soroban’s system for storing contract states was fixed after it caused network instability.

Details: The bug allowed outdated contract data to interfere with active records, risking network errors. The fix added stricter checks on memory use and increased the cost (gas fees) for storing contract data long-term by 15%.

What this means: This caused a short-term price drop of about 12%, but it’s positive in the long run. After the fix, smart contract deployments on Stellar surged by 700%, showing renewed confidence in the platform.
(Source)

Conclusion

Stellar’s 2025 updates focus on making the network more scalable and developer-friendly, though adoption by big players is still catching up. The upcoming Protocol 24, with its privacy features, could be a key driver if it attracts institutional validators during its late 2025 test phase.

Why did the price of XLM fall?

Stellar (XLM) dropped 4.26% to $0.23 in the last 24 hours, underperforming the overall crypto market, which fell 3.27%. The main reasons include large investors selling off, technical price breakdowns, and weakness across altcoins.

1. Whale Selling: Over $36 million worth of XLM was moved to Coinbase, suggesting potential selling pressure.
2. Technical Breakdown: The price fell below a key support level at $0.25, triggering automated sell orders.
3. Altcoin Weakness: As Bitcoin’s market dominance rose to 58.5%, altcoins like XLM saw significant declines.

Deep Dive

1. Whale Activity (Bearish Impact)

What happened? On November 21, three large transactions totaling 162.3 million XLM (about $36 million) were sent to Coinbase within a minute (U.Today). This coincided with XLM’s price hitting a 24-hour low of $0.2223.

Why it matters: When big holders (called whales) move large amounts of coins to exchanges, it often signals they plan to sell. XLM’s trading volume jumped 56.29% to $322 million, showing increased market activity. Historically, such moves can lead to more price drops, especially when there isn’t much trading liquidity (turnover ratio: 4.36%).

What to watch: If whales start moving coins back to private wallets, it could indicate they’re accumulating again, which might support a price rebound.

2. Technical Breakdown (Bearish Impact)

What happened? On November 19, XLM’s price fell below a critical support level at $0.2520 (Yahoo Finance), starting a pattern of “lower highs,” which is a bearish sign. Key technical indicators show:

• RSI-14 at 31.14, indicating neutral but downward momentum.
• MACD shows a bearish crossover, signaling selling pressure.
• Price is below all major moving averages (7-day average: $0.251, 30-day average: $0.287).

Why it matters: Breaking below support triggered stop-loss orders and automated selling, speeding up the price decline. There’s little support until around $0.22, so sellers currently have the upper hand.

3. Altcoin Weakness (Bearish Impact)

What happened? The crypto fear/greed index dropped to “Extreme Fear” (11 out of 100), while Bitcoin’s dominance in the market rose to 58.5%. This means investors are moving money out of riskier altcoins like XLM. XLM’s 30-day price correlation with Bitcoin increased to 0.89, showing it’s closely following Bitcoin’s moves.

Why it matters: During periods called “Bitcoin Season,” investors prefer Bitcoin over altcoins, leading to heavier selling pressure on coins like XLM. Over the past 30 days, XLM’s price dropped 25.43%, similar to the broader altcoin index CD20’s decline of 22.67%, reflecting a general pullback in the altcoin market.

Conclusion

XLM’s recent price drop is driven by large investor sell-offs, technical breakdowns, and a tough market environment for altcoins. While Stellar’s long-term outlook remains positive—especially with developments like integration with SWIFT’s ISO 20022 payment standard—the short-term price depends heavily on Bitcoin’s stability and whale activity.

What to watch: Will XLM hold the $0.22 support level, or will it fall further if Bitcoin weakens? Keep an eye on large coin movements to exchanges for signs of selling pressure or accumulation.