Stellar (XLM) has emerged as one of the most notable gainers in the latest wave of cryptocurrency momentum, breaking out of years of sideways movement and reclaiming a spot among the top 20 digital assets by market capitalization. After trading in relative obscurity since its last major bull run, XLM has surged past $0.24 — a level not seen since 2022 — driven by growing institutional adoption and renewed network activity.
The rally follows Franklin Templeton’s strategic integration of the Stellar network for its tokenized asset offerings, marking a pivotal moment for the blockchain's credibility and utility in traditional finance. With increased transaction volume, rising on-chain activity, and expanding decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystems, Stellar is reasserting itself as a viable infrastructure for institutional-grade blockchain solutions.
Franklin Templeton’s Move Boosts Stellar’s Real-World Asset Strategy
Franklin Templeton, a global investment management giant with over $1.6 trillion in assets under management, recently launched its tokenized fund product — B ENJ I — on the Stellar network. This move positions Stellar as a key player in the rapidly evolving real-world asset (RWA) tokenization space.
B ENJ I represents shares in the Franklin Onchain U.S. Government Money Fund (FOBXX), a regulated money market fund backed by U.S. government securities. Each share of FOBXX is symbolized by one B ENJ I token, enabling fractional ownership and seamless transferability across blockchains. While currently available only to qualified investors through a dedicated application, this initiative serves as a critical testbed for cross-chain asset distribution and settlement efficiency.
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Previously launched on Aptos and Ethereum, the expansion to Stellar highlights the network’s appeal due to its low transaction costs, high throughput, and proven stability — essential traits for institutional-grade applications. Franklin Templeton operates nodes on multiple chains, including Stellar, reinforcing its commitment to multi-chain interoperability and operational resilience.
Moreover, the firm has partnered with Chainlink to explore blockchain-based settlement solutions that reduce counterparty risk, accelerate clearing times, and streamline complex financial workflows. By leveraging oracles and smart contracts, Franklin Templeton aims to create a more efficient bridge between traditional capital markets and decentralized infrastructure.
This institutional validation has significantly boosted confidence in Stellar’s long-term viability, attracting both developer interest and investor attention.
XLM Price Momentum and Market Metrics Signal Renewed Interest
The impact of Franklin Templeton’s announcement was immediate and substantial. Within a week, XLM’s price surged over 128%, climbing from below $0.11 to surpass $0.24 — its highest level since August 2022. The breakout coincided with a sharp increase in trading volume, which spiked to $1.94 billion within 24 hours, reflecting strong market participation.
Equally telling is the growth in open interest, which reached a three-year high of $102 million, indicating rising leverage and trader engagement. However, caution remains warranted: approximately 65% of open positions are longs, suggesting potential vulnerability to profit-taking or short-side pressure if momentum stalls.
Another bullish signal came from on-chain analytics. Just before the price explosion, Stellar recorded an unusual spike in daily active addresses — exceeding 153,000 between November 6 and 7 — signaling genuine user engagement rather than speculative炒作. This surge in organic activity underscores that Stellar remains a functional and utilized network, even during prolonged crypto winters.
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DeFi Ecosystem Gains Traction on Stellar
Despite missing out on the NFT and GameFi booms of previous cycles, Stellar has quietly built a resilient DeFi foundation. The total value locked (TVL) across its decentralized applications now exceeds $31.66 million**, with significant contributions from protocols like **LumenSwap**, the network’s largest decentralized exchange (DEX), which holds nearly **$15 million in locked liquidity.
While Franklin Templeton’s B ENJ I does not directly interact with permissionless DeFi platforms, its presence on Stellar enhances the overall security and legitimacy of the chain — indirectly benefiting native projects. Furthermore, the potential inflow of up to $386.19 million in tokenized assets could catalyze new use cases, such as yield-bearing RWA pools or cross-chain lending markets.
Stellar’s architecture supports fast finality and low fees — ideal conditions for high-frequency trading and microtransactions — making it well-suited for scalable financial applications beyond simple transfers.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What caused XLM’s recent price surge?
The primary catalyst was Franklin Templeton’s decision to launch its tokenized fund B ENJ I on the Stellar network. This institutional endorsement boosted market sentiment and attracted both retail and professional investors.
Is XLM part of the top 20 cryptocurrencies again?
Yes. Following its price rally past $0.24, XLM reclaimed a position within the top 20 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization after being absent since late 2022.
How does RWA tokenization work on Stellar?
Real-world assets like government bonds or money market funds are digitized into blockchain tokens (e.g., B ENJ I). These tokens represent ownership and can be traded or settled instantly on-chain, improving liquidity and accessibility.
Can I invest in Franklin Templeton’s B ENJ I publicly?
Not yet. Currently, B ENJ I is available only to qualified institutional investors via a private app. It is not listed on public crypto exchanges.
What makes Stellar different from Ripple?
Both aim to modernize cross-border payments, but Stellar focuses on open-source inclusivity and low-cost transactions for individuals and institutions worldwide. Unlike Ripple, Stellar does not face ongoing regulatory litigation and emphasizes community governance.
What is the next price target for XLM?
Analysts project that sustained momentum could push XLM toward $0.30 in the short term, especially if institutional adoption continues and broader market conditions remain favorable.
Final Outlook: A Sleeping Giant Awakens
Stellar (XLM) is no longer just a dormant project surviving crypto winters. It is reactivating with purpose — backed by real adoption, growing DeFi activity, and strategic partnerships with financial heavyweights like Franklin Templeton.
While challenges remain — including competition from other enterprise-focused blockchains and potential profit-taking from long-dormant holders — the fundamentals are improving. With strong infrastructure, low fees, and increasing visibility in the RWA space, Stellar is well-positioned to play a central role in the next phase of financial digitization.
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