Key TakeawaysUSTR Jamieson Greer confirmed President Trump has increased the temporary global tariff rate from 10% to 15%, citing the "urgency" of the current trade deficit and a need for reciprocity.The U.S. Secret Service fatally shot an armed man who attempted to breach a secure perimeter at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.Cryptocurrency markets are showing mixed results, with Bitcoin (BTC) trading down slightly at $68,076 while mid-cap assets like EOS (EOS) saw modest gains.Severe weather in the U.S. N ...

Core Insights - Stellar (XLM) has experienced a significant price drop, falling below $0.20, which has erased its previous recovery from last year. Despite this, there are positive indicators suggesting continued investor interest in the ecosystem [1][2]. Group 1: Market Performance - The amount of XLM locked in DeFi protocols on the Stellar network reached a new all-time high of over 900 million XLM in early February 2026, indicating growth in Stellar's DeFi ecosystem [2]. - The total value locked (TVL) in USD on Stellar is approximately $163 million, reflecting strong community confidence and long-term investor interest in the network's adoption potential [4]. - Key protocols driving capital inflow include Blend and Aquarius Stellar, which together account for nearly 70% of the total TVL [5]. Group 2: User Activity - Weekly active users in the Stellar ecosystem have remained stable at around 60,000, showing no significant decline despite the drop in XLM price [6]. - Historical data indicates that user activity remained stable even during previous price drops, suggesting that existing users are not abandoning the network [7]. Group 3: Market Dynamics - Derivatives metrics show that XLM may be entering a new consolidation zone, with open interest volume at its lowest since November 2024, indicating reduced leveraged exposure among traders [8]. - This decline in volatility may lead to a sideways market phase, potentially allowing for a new accumulation zone to form [9]. Group 4: Future Drivers - The total value of tokenized real-world assets on Stellar, excluding stablecoins, reached $1 billion at the start of this year, suggesting that real-world assets and stablecoins could be significant drivers for XLM in 2026 [10][11].

Core Insights - The macro financial market response to the US's attack on Venezuela is neutral, leading to a bullish outlook for the week [1] Group 1: Stellar (XLM) - XLM is trading near $0.233, with a nearly 16% gain over the past week, but remains constrained by a downtrend line [2] - To break the downtrend, XLM needs to reclaim the $0.241 resistance, with the Parabolic SAR indicating an active uptrend [3] Group 2: Render (RENDER) - RENDER has surged 57% over the past week, benefiting from renewed interest in AI-focused cryptocurrencies [5] - The rally is supported by solid capital inflows, with the Chaikin Money Flow indicating sustained accumulation [6] - There is a downside risk if profit-taking occurs, which could push RENDER below the $2.00 level [7] Group 3: Onyxcoin (XCN) - XCN surged 41% in the past 24 hours, trading near $0.00595 after failing to break the critical resistance at $0.00630 [8] - The current rebound shows renewed strength, but XCN must retest $0.00535 as support to confirm stability [9]

Core Insights - Coinbase has expanded its derivatives offerings by introducing eleven altcoins to its perpetual-style futures, following the earlier launch of Bitcoin and Ether products [1][3][4] Group 1: Expansion of Derivatives - The introduction of perpetual-style futures for altcoins marks a significant step in the normalization of regulated crypto derivatives in the U.S. market [2][7] - The new contracts are designed to replicate perpetual exposure while complying with U.S. derivatives regulations, differentiating them from traditional perpetual contracts [3][7] Group 2: Supported Altcoins - The eleven new altcoins added to Coinbase's perpetual-style derivatives include Avalanche (AVAX), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Cardano (ADA), Chainlink (LINK), Dogecoin (DOGE), Hedera (HBAR), Litecoin (LTC), Polkadot (DOT), Shiba Inu (SHIB), Sui (SUI), and Stellar (XLM) [4][5][6] - The selection focuses on large-cap, liquid tokens with established trading histories, alongside newer projects and popular memecoins [6] Group 3: Market Implications - Coinbase's perpetual-style futures are accessible to both retail and institutional traders in the U.S., highlighting a shift towards regulated trading environments [2][7] - These futures are listed on Coinbase Derivatives and require access through registered Futures Commission Merchants (FCMs) [7]

Core Insights - The Stellar (XLM) network is experiencing a significant increase in on-chain activity in December 2025, despite muted price movements, indicating potential positive fundamentals for a price recovery [1][2] On-Chain Activity - In December 2025, the number of operations on the Stellar network reached its highest level of the year, marking a notable increase in network activity [2] - Operations related to Payment or Path Payment indicate a strong flow of cash and assets, suggesting rising real-world demand and increased liquidity within the system [3] - Stellar Chain Transactions, which include asset transfers and smart-contract interactions, have shown a steady upward trend throughout the year, with a notable spike in December [4][5] Institutional Interest - US Bank, one of the largest commercial banks in the U.S., has begun testing stablecoin issuance on the Stellar network, which may attract retail interest and further boost network activity [5] Total Value Locked (TVL) - Stellar's Total Value Locked (TVL) reached an all-time high of over $179.18 million in December 2025, indicating that investors are locking more XLM into Stellar-based ecosystems despite the price not recovering [6][7] Price Action and Support Levels - XLM is currently at a critical support zone, with a weekly chart indicating a range of $0.24 to $0.195, which has held multiple times in previous market cycles [7][8] - Analysts view this support level as an accumulation opportunity for those anticipating a broader crypto recovery in late 2025 and early 2026, with a target range of $0.40 to $0.49 [8] Market Sentiment - There is a noted divergence between fundamental strength and price action, as seen with XRP, which has not rallied despite significant developments, suggesting that strategies like dollar-cost averaging or waiting for improved market sentiment may be prudent [9]

Core Insights - The real-world asset (RWA) market is showing signs of recovery after a slow November, driven by interest in stablecoin experiments and strong technical setups [1] - Activity in the RWA sector remains uneven, but certain tokens are demonstrating clearer setups for potential growth [2] Stellar (XLM) - Stellar (XLM) is highlighted as a payments-first chain utilized by major financial players, despite experiencing an 18.9% decline in November [3] - A recent 4.9% bounce in the last week is attributed to US Bank's stablecoin tests and increased AUDD activity [3] - A bullish divergence is indicated by the price reaching a lower low while the Relative Strength Index (RSI) formed a higher low, suggesting that selling pressure may be diminishing [4] - XLM is currently trading within a tight range of $0.253 to $0.264, with a daily close above $0.264 signaling a potential bullish trend [5] - If the price falls below $0.239, the bullish setup weakens, potentially leading to a drop towards $0.217 [7] Quant (QNT) - Quant (QNT) is identified as an outlier among RWA tokens, having increased by approximately 32% in November and 37% in the past week, with a 12% rise in the last 24 hours [8] - The token is central to the "interoperability for finance" narrative, connecting private and public blockchains, which allows it to respond quickly to institutional demand [9] - A bullish EMA crossover is nearing completion on the daily chart, indicating that buyers may be gaining control, which could lead to further price increases [10]

Core Insights - The unexpected price decline of Stellar (XLM) in October has led to increased demand, indicating long-term investor confidence despite short-term price challenges [1][5] - The total value locked (TVL) on the Stellar chain has reached an all-time high of over 456 million XLM, reflecting strong investor faith in the ecosystem [2][3] - XLM's price has dropped by 50% since December, while the amount of XLM locked in DeFi protocols has increased more than fourfold, showcasing a divergence between price and utility [3][5] Investor Behavior - Significant accumulation of XLM was observed in October, with over 240 million XLM withdrawn from Binance, indicating a shift towards long-term holding or DeFi deployment [3][5] - The funding rate for XLM futures contracts has remained negative for the past two weeks, suggesting ongoing bearish sentiment among traders [5][6] - Some investors view XLM priced below $0.20 as an attractive entry point, anticipating a potential bull run similar to 2017 [7] Market Dynamics - The OI-weighted funding rate has been below zero since October 11, indicating traders are paying to maintain short positions, contributing to a pessimistic market sentiment [6] - Despite the negative funding rate, the increase in TVL and exchange reserves suggests long-term optimism among certain investors [6][9] - Stellar's recent upgrade to Protocol 24 and a 26.3% rise in the value of real-world assets on the platform to $638 million further support its long-term viability [9]

Group 1 - Stellar (XLM) is experiencing renewed optimism from traders and institutions despite a recent 60% flash crash, driven by fundamental developments such as the launch of a new physically backed ETP and key partnerships [1][2] - WisdomTree launched its Physical Stellar Lumens (XLMW) ETP on October 14, listed on the Swiss SIX Exchange and Euronext in Paris and Amsterdam, with a management expense ratio of 0.50% [2][3] - The ETP provides institutional investors with transparent and regulated access to Stellar's ecosystem, highlighting Stellar as a high-performance Layer-1 blockchain aimed at modernizing global finance [3][4] Group 2 - Stellar has evolved from a niche remittance protocol since its launch in 2014 into a globally distributed network facilitating cross-border payments, tokenized real-world assets, and decentralized finance applications [3][4] - The Stellar Consensus Protocol (SCP) allows for near-instant transactions without mining rewards or excessive energy consumption, positioning Stellar as one of the most established blockchains focused on real-world financial solutions [4] - José Fernández da Ponte, President and Chief Growth Officer of the Stellar Development Foundation, joined the International Advisory Board of Santander, enhancing ties between open blockchain networks and traditional financial institutions [5]

Core Insights - Stellar (XLM) is showing signs of a potential bull run similar to its performance in 2017, with various indicators suggesting a strong market position in Q4 2025 [1] Group 1: Network Activity - Stellar's network activity has reached a yearly high, with over 69 million weekly transactions, indicating robust real network usage [2][3] - The increase in network activity is likely to enhance Stellar's intrinsic value, attracting more users and investors [3] Group 2: Correlation with Major Cryptocurrencies - The correlation between XLM and major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) has reached an annual peak, with XLM-BTC correlation at approximately 0.75 and XLM-ETH correlation around 0.7 [5][6] - This strong correlation suggests that XLM is perceived to share similar risk and growth potential with leading assets, which is crucial during the current selective altcoin season [6] Group 3: Supply Distribution Trends - The Supply Equality Ratio (SER) has declined, indicating a bullish accumulation trend as wealth distribution becomes more concentrated among larger wallets [7]

Core Insights - The article discusses the introduction of the Hashdex Nasdaq Crypto Index US ETF (NCIQ), which provides a diversified, regulated way for U.S. investors to gain exposure to multiple cryptocurrencies without the complexities of managing individual assets [2][4][44] - NCIQ is positioned as a significant innovation in the crypto investment landscape, allowing investors to own a basket of leading cryptocurrencies while benefiting from institutional-grade oversight and transparency [14][45][46] Fund Structure and Mechanics - NCIQ wraps major U.S.-eligible cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Cardano, Ripple, and Stellar, into a single investment vehicle that adjusts automatically based on market conditions [4][6] - The fund operates as a Delaware statutory trust, ensuring that all transactions occur in cash, which simplifies operations and enhances regulatory compliance [6][7] - The benchmark for NCIQ, the Nasdaq Crypto US Settlement Price Index (NCIUSS), employs strict methodologies to minimize manipulation and ensure transparency [5][12] Investment Case - NCIQ's inclusion of a broader range of cryptocurrencies beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum allows investors to capture diverse segments of the crypto economy, which is a shift from previous single-asset ETFs [8][10] - The management fee for NCIQ has been reduced to 0.25% through December 31, 2025, enhancing its cost efficiency and potentially leading to a fee war in the crypto ETF market [9][10] - The ETF provides a simple entry point for investors, allowing them to gain diversified exposure without the need for wallets or private keys, making it suitable for both retail and institutional investors [11][40] Performance Metrics - As of September 30, 2025, NCIQ has shown strong performance with a +3.40% return at market price over the past month and a +23.51% return since inception [17][18] - The fund has maintained tight bid-ask spreads and efficient arbitrage, indicating that its internal mechanics are functioning effectively [19][20] Risk Profile - NCIQ's Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) indicates a high concentration in Bitcoin, which drives most of the fund's returns and volatility [22][23] - The ETF's performance is significantly influenced by Bitcoin and Ethereum, which account for 80-85% of total index variance [24] - Operational risks, such as liquidity issues and regulatory changes, could impact NCIQ's performance and investor confidence [28][30] Portfolio Integration - NCIQ is designed to fit within diversified portfolios as a core crypto beta, typically making up 1-5% of total allocation [38] - For investors already holding Bitcoin or Ethereum, NCIQ serves as a complementary asset that reduces single-asset risk [39] - New investors can utilize NCIQ as a straightforward entry point into the crypto market, benefiting from institutional-grade custody and trading convenience [40][42]