Share this article

Stellar Surges 14% Before Sharp Reversal as Network Upgrade Fuels Volatility

Stellar rallies 14.3% on soaring volume and developer momentum as the "v23.0.0rc2" release reinforces protocol readiness

Jul 9, 2025, 3:40 p.m.
XLM-USD July 9 2025 (CoinDesk)
XLM-USD July 9 2025 (CoinDesk)

What to know:

  • XLM climbed 14.3% from $0.252 to $0.293 before retracing to $0.2896.
  • Institutional volume peaked at 405.9M as XLM broke resistance at $0.270 and $0.278.
  • GitHub release of Stellar Core v23.0.0rc2 boosted sentiment around network maturity and readiness.

Stellar Lumens (XLM) surged over a 24-hour period into Wednesday, reaching a high of $0.293 before closing at $0.2896, driven by institutional accumulation and renewed confidence in the network’s underlying architecture.

The price action followed a significant update to Stellar’s core software, adding to momentum in a high-volume environment.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters

On July 7, the Stellar Development Foundation published the v23.0.0rc2 release candidate for Stellar Core, marking the protocol’s next step toward broader network upgrades and ecosystem scalability. The release includes important refinements ahead of the full v23.0.0 roll-out, reinforcing trust in Stellar’s infrastructure among both developers and institutional participants.

Technically, XLM gained strength throughout the 24-hour window ending July 9 at 14:00 UTC. The rally intensified between 11:00 and 13:00 UTC, with volume spiking to 163.4M and 405.9M, more than 7x the daily average of 54.7M. Key resistance levels at $0.270 and $0.278 were decisively cleared, with new support forming at those levels, according to CoinDesk Research's technical analysis data.

The momentum subsequently faded somewhat, with XLM declining 2.05% from $0.293 to $0.287, triggered by a breakdown below $0.291. This sharp drop initiated cascading sell-offs, likely driven by short-term trading systems, and formed new resistance near $0.294, the model showed.

While the late-session pullback highlights near-term volatility, the broader structure remains bullish. With development progress accelerating and support holding above $0.278, XLM remains technically positioned for another test of the $0.294–$0.30 zone, according to the model's data.

Technical Analysis Highlights

  • Price range: $0.252 to $0.293 - a 14.3% intraday gain before falling to $0.2896.
  • Volume surge: Peaks at 405.9M, nearly 7.5x the 24-hour average of 54.7M.
  • Resistance breakouts: $0.270 and $0.278 flipped to support on strong volume.
  • Retracement of 2.05% from $0.293 to $0.287 after $0.291 was breached.
  • New resistance: Formed near $0.294 following selling pressure.
  • Development driver: Release of Stellar Core v23.0.0rc2 enhances sentiment around protocol maturity and upgrade readiness.

Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk's full AI Policy.

More For You

KuCoin Hits Record Market Share as 2025 Volumes Outpace Crypto Market

16:9 Image

KuCoin captured a record share of centralised exchange volume in 2025, with more than $1.25tn traded as its volumes grew faster than the wider crypto market.

What to know:

  • KuCoin recorded over $1.25 trillion in total trading volume in 2025, equivalent to an average of roughly $114 billion per month, marking its strongest year on record.
  • This performance translated into an all-time high share of centralised exchange volume, as KuCoin’s activity expanded faster than aggregate CEX volumes, which slowed during periods of lower market volatility.
  • Spot and derivatives volumes were evenly split, each exceeding $500 billion for the year, signalling broad-based usage rather than reliance on a single product line.
  • Altcoins accounted for the majority of trading activity, reinforcing KuCoin’s role as a primary liquidity venue beyond BTC and ETH at a time when majors saw more muted turnover.
  • Even as overall crypto volumes softened mid-year, KuCoin maintained elevated baseline activity, indicating structurally higher user engagement rather than short-lived volume spikes.

More For You

Gold tops $5,000 as bitcoin stalls near $87,000 in widening macro-crypto split: Asia Morning Briefing

Stacked gold bars (Scottsdale Mint/Unsplash/Modified by CoinDesk)

Bitcoin’s onchain data points to supply overhang and weak participation, while gold’s breakout is priced by markets as a durable macro regime shift.

What to know:

  • Gold’s surge above $5,000 an ounce is increasingly seen as a durable regime shift, with investors treating the metal as a persistent hedge against geopolitical risk, central bank demand and a weaker dollar.
  • Bitcoin is stuck near $87,000 in a low-conviction market, as on-chain data show older holders selling into rallies, newer buyers absorbing losses and a heavy supply overhang capping moves toward $100,000.
  • Derivatives and prediction markets point to continued consolidation in bitcoin and sustained strength in gold, with thin futures volumes, subdued leverage and weak demand for higher-beta crypto assets like ether reinforcing the cautious tone.