The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved Hashdex’s multi-asset crypto ETF on Sept.25, expanding investor access to Stellar (XLM). Yet the token is down more than 6% from a week ago and now trades near $0.36. Can Hashdex ETF lift the XLM price? Lets analyse.
ETF Approval Expands Market Access
Hashdex’s Nasdaq Crypto Index U.S. ETF is the first multi-asset spot crypto product approved in the United States. It gives investors exposure to Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Ripple (XRP), Solana (SOL), and Stellar (XLM).
Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) let investors buy shares in a basket of assets without holding them directly. In this case, Hashdex’s ETF now includes Stellar alongside other major cryptocurrencies.
This matters because institutional investors — such as funds, banks, or retirement accounts — prefer regulated products like ETFs over directly buying tokens. Hashdex CEO Marcelo Sampaio said the expansion “gives investors an easier way to participate in a fast-growing crypto industry.”
For Stellar, inclusion could mean steady demand from larger investors over time. But ETFs do not guarantee short-term price gains, especially when market conditions remain weak.
XLM Charts Signal $0.35 as Make-or-Break Level
Stellar (XLM) has been trading inside a descending triangle, a pattern that usually signals consolidation before a breakout. The top of this pattern lies near $0.45, acting as resistance, while the base sits around $0.35, acting as support.
On Sept.25, XLM price dropped more than 6% and touched this support zone. On Sept.26, the token rebounded to $0.3599, showing that buyers are defending the level — at least for now.
The 200-day exponential moving average (EMA), which tracks the long-term trend, also sits close to $0.34. This means the $0.34–$0.35 range is a make-or-break area for Stellar. If this range holds, traders could push the price back to $0.40–$0.45. A successful breakout above $0.45 would invalidate the descending triangle and open a path to $0.50.
However, if the $0.35 level fails, selling pressure could drive XLM price down to $0.30, a level not tested since earlier in the year.
The Relative Strength Index (RSI), currently at 43, provides more context. RSI values below 30 indicate oversold conditions, while above 70 signal overbought levels. At 43, Stellar is in a neutral zone, which suggests the token has room to fall before becoming oversold. But this also leaves room for a rebound if buyers step in.
On-Chain Growth Accelerates With Record TVL and Contract Surge
Stellar’s Total Value Locked (TVL) reached a record high in September, surpassing $145 million locked in protocols. This is double the figure from the previous quarter, showing stronger user confidence in staking, lending, and liquidity provision.
Smart contract usage also surged, with more than 1 million daily contract calls recorded in September. These contracts underpin payments, DeFi applications, and integrations with traditional systems, showing the network’s move toward real-world adoption.
Institutional interest in Stellar grew in September. Mercado Bitcoin announced $200 million in tokenized financial assets on Stellar, while RedSwan Digital Real Estate added $100 million in tokenized properties. PayPal launched its stablecoin PYUSD on Stellar, bringing the blockchain into mainstream payment use cases.
Stellar’s fundamentals — ETF inclusion, record TVL, smart contract growth, institutional adoption, and the Protocol 23 upgrade — all point to stronger long-term potential. But the token remains under pressure in the short term, with market sentiment still driving daily moves.
If XLM can defend support at $0.35, its broader exposure through Hashdex’s ETF and ecosystem growth could fuel a recovery. A breakdown below this level, however, could extend the decline to $0.30 before buyers return.
Stay tuned for our upcoming coverage as we track whether XLM holds the $0.35 support — and how Hashdex’s ETF may shape its next move.
