Deep Dive
1. Ghost Chain Status (11 August 2025)
Overview:
Binance delisted XEM in June 2024, citing weak liquidity and development, a decision highlighted in recent analyses of “ghost chains.” These are blockchains with minimal usage, developer activity, or community engagement. XEM’s daily transactions and ecosystem activity remain critically low, aligning with this classification.
What this means:
This is bearish for XEM because ghost chain labels erode investor confidence and deter new projects from building on the network. Reduced exchange support further limits liquidity, creating a cycle of declining relevance. (CoinMarketCap)
2. EXMO Delisting (20 July 2025)
Overview:
EXMO removed XEM from its platform on 20 July 2025, following similar moves by Dex-Trade (June 2024) and others. The exchange cited low liquidity and trading volume as key reasons, urging users to withdraw holdings pre-delisting.
What this means:
This reflects diminishing market demand and institutional confidence in XEM. Repeated delistings reduce accessibility, pressuring existing holders and amplifying sell-side risks during exit scrambles. (EXMO)
3. Price Surge Fades (23 July 2025)
Overview:
XEM spiked 70.9% in a week ending 23 July 2025, briefly reaching $0.00124. However, gains reversed swiftly, with the token down 17% over the past week and 54% over 60 days as of 14 October 2025.
What this means:
The rally lacked fundamental drivers, likely driven by speculative altcoin rotations. With turnover at 0.222 (low liquidity), such volatility highlights XEM’s susceptibility to pump-and-dump cycles rather than sustained growth. (CoinMarketCap)
Conclusion
XEM faces existential risks from ghost chain stigma and evaporating exchange support, overshadowing transient price jumps. While its Proof-of-Importance consensus once differentiated it, stagnant development and liquidity erosion raise a critical question: Can NEM reignite network participation before becoming crypto’s next cautionary tale?