Stellar (XLM) finds itself in a peculiar market position, as bullish sentiment among futures traders begins to swell despite the asset's persistent price decline. This intriguing divergence suggests that a significant portion of the market is anticipating a reversal, fueled by underlying strengths and recent network growth, even as current market volatility keeps prices suppressed.
Bullish Futures Sentiment Defies Price Dip
Recent CoinGlass data reveals a notable uptick in Stellar's four-hour open interest, registering a 1.16% increase. This surge in futures contracts, despite a broader 24-hour decline of 11.27% in open interest and a 7.65% fall in XLM's spot price to $0.3011, signals a growing confidence in a potential rebound. Open interest represents the total value of outstanding futures contracts, and its rise often indicates increasing bullish bets from investors. Traders have collectively committed $140 million, or 465.24 million XLM, to the asset’s future market, with Binance, Bitget, Bybit, and OKX leading in contributions. Adding to this positive outlook, XLM's trading volume has also seen a substantial 49.48% increase, suggesting heightened engagement that could precede a price reversal.
Underlying Strengths and Future Prospects
This renewed bullish conviction among traders isn't without foundation. Stellar has demonstrated remarkable performance year-to-date, recording an impressive 288% gain as of September 2025, significantly outpacing both Bitcoin and Ethereum during the same period. The asset had briefly breached the $0.40 resistance level, reaching $0.4036 before broader market fluctuations led to a price correction. Furthermore, Stellar's DeFi ecosystem has shown robust growth, attracting increased user adoption and institutional interest, with almost 400 million XLM currently locked. Many analysts and investors view these milestones as precursors to a major breakout. While this adoption has yet to translate into a sustained price rally, the current increase in open interest could be the catalyst needed to spark a recovery, potentially pushing XLM back towards the critical $0.40 level.
