Deep Dive
1. Technical Resistance (Bearish Impact)
Overview: XLM faced rejection at the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement level ($0.3981) after briefly testing $0.4041 on October 3. The price is now consolidating near $0.389, below its 7-day SMA ($0.3825).
What this means: The $0.40–$0.41 zone has acted as a psychological and technical barrier since August 2025. Repeated failure to breach this level likely triggered stop-loss orders and profit-taking, amplifying the sell-off. The RSI (59.96) suggests neutral momentum, but bearish divergence emerged as prices retreated from overbought territory (RSI7: 69.69 on October 3).
What to look out for: A close above $0.41 could reignite bullish momentum, while a break below $0.38 (30-day SMA) may extend losses.
2. Market-Wide Risk Aversion (Mixed Impact)
Overview: The total crypto market cap dipped 0.83% in 24h, with Bitcoin dominance rising to 58.45%. Altcoin season index fell 6.06% as capital rotated to safer assets.
What this means: XLM’s underperformance reflects reduced risk appetite. While Stellar’s 30-day return (+9.68%) outpaces BTC (+7.53%), traders are trimming altcoin exposure amid rising derivatives open interest (+1.87% to $1.13T), signaling leveraged bets on volatility.
3. ETF Hype Fades (Neutral Impact)
Overview: REX Shares and Osprey Funds filed for 21 crypto ETFs on October 3, including XLM staking products. However, SEC approval timelines remain uncertain.
What this means: While ETF access could boost institutional demand long-term, the lack of immediate catalysts and Stellar’s niche focus (cross-border payments vs. Ethereum’s DeFi dominance) limit short-term hype. XLM’s 24h volume fell 21% to $296M, indicating fading momentum.
Conclusion
XLM’s drop stems from technical resistance, profit-taking after recent gains, and subdued altcoin sentiment. While Protocol 23 upgrades and real-world asset partnerships (e.g., Moody’s, Centrifuge) support fundamentals, short-term traders are prioritizing risk management.
Key watch: Can XLM hold $0.38 support, or will Bitcoin’s dominance squeeze altcoins further?