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Stellar’s XLM Rallies on Volume Surge Before Sharp Intraday Reversal

Stellar's token hits $0.39 peak on massive volume before wiping out gains in final trading hour as institutional interest builds.

Sep 16, 2025, 3:53 p.m.
"Chart of XLM/USD showing a sharp 3% morning rally to $0.39 on high volume followed by a reversal and consolidation around the same price level on September 15-16."
"XLM rallies 3% to $0.39 on massive volume before reversing gains in sharp late-session sell-off as institutional interest swells."

What to know:

  • XLM jumped 3% from $0.38 to $0.39 on September 16 amid record morning volumes topping 70 million.
  • A DTCC patent filing named XLM as a compatible network for tokenized securities, while Stellar announced new institutional launches.
  • Heavy selling in the final hour erased gains, underscoring crypto’s sensitivity to rapid shifts in sentiment.

Stellar’s XLM token saw sharp volatility over the past 23 hours, swinging between $0.38 and $0.39 in a tight but active trading range. The token’s most explosive move came between 08:00–09:00 UTC, when XLM spiked from $0.38 to $0.39 on surging volume of 70 million—more than triple its 24-hour average.

Trading momentum carried through the following hour, with volume staying elevated above 60 million before the price consolidated near the upper band of the range.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW
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The morning rally was fueled by a mix of technical activity and strengthening fundamentals. Notably, a recent DTCC patent filing referenced both XRP and XLM as compatible networks for liquidity tokenization within systems that handle nearly $4 quadrillion in securities annually.

Meanwhile, the Stellar Development Foundation said major payments and asset management firms are preparing to launch on the network in the coming weeks, a development coinciding with a ninefold increase in Stellar’s total value locked over the past year.

But bullish momentum quickly evaporated in the final session. Between 13:15 and 14:14 UTC, XLM slipped back from $0.39, erasing morning gains.

The sharpest selling hit around 13:45–13:47, when the token tumbled on heavy volume above 3.6 million. Activity slowed to zero in the last two minutes of trading, suggesting an institutional step back and potential short-term consolidation.

The whipsaw highlights crypto’s vulnerability to fast-shifting sentiment, even as institutional interest grows.

XLM’s morning breakout underscored enthusiasm around Stellar’s expanding ecosystem and validation from a critical financial market infrastructure player. Yet the intraday reversal reinforced how quickly optimism can give way to profit-taking, leaving traders cautious about near-term direction.

XLM/USD (TradingView)
XLM/USD (TradingView)
Technical Indicators Show Mixed Signals
  • Volume spike to 70.02 million during 08:00-09:00 builds strong resistance at $0.39 level.
  • Sustained heavy volume of 60.17 million through 09:00-10:00 confirms bullish momentum.
  • Consolidation around $0.39 suggests this zone becomes new support after breakout.
  • Final hour selling pressure on 3.6 million volume establishes new support zone around $0.39.
  • Zero trading volume in final two minutes points to institutional withdrawal.

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.

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