Stellar's XLM token has seen a slight 0.38% price decline over the past 24 hours, with the price decreasing from $0.1196 to $0.1192. Though a minor downturn, this continues the broader downtrend XLM has been on over the past week and month. In this report, we will analyze the key metrics around XLM's price, trading volume, and market performance to derive insights into where the token may be headed next.

Starting with a broad overview, XLM currently has a market capitalization of $3.28 billion, putting it within the top 30 cryptocurrencies by market cap. The 24-hour trading volume was $50.23 million, suggesting reasonable liquidity. Over the past hour, XLM has seen a slight recovery of 0.15%, though this comes after a 0.38% drop over the past 24 hours.

Zooming out further, XLM has declined 9.67% over the past week, showing the token has been on a clear downward trajectory. The month-over-month performance paints a similar picture, with XLM down 7.82% compared to one month ago. However, taking an even longer-term view shows a reversal of fortunes, as XLM is up a whopping 40.74% over the past 6 months.

So what could be behind this recent bearishness? The broader crypto market has pulled back over the past two months, so some of this is likely due to overall negative sentiment. However, XLM may also be consolidating after a strong rally earlier this year. The token is still up significantly year-to-date, so this decline could simply be a healthy correction before the next leg up.

Analyzing the XLM chart shows the price recently broke below key support around $0.12. This likely triggered additional selling pressure, pushing the price lower over the past week. The next key support level to watch will be around $0.11, where the price stabilized back in July. If XLM breaks decisively below $0.11, it could open the door for a steeper selloff towards $0.09.

On the flipside, if XLM can reclaim the $0.12 level as support, it could signal a resumption of the broader uptrend. The token would then target resistance around $0.135 and $0.15 next. The 50-day moving average near $0.13 would act as the first test of any recovery.

Overall, my prediction is that XLM will likely remain rangebound between $0.11 and $0.12 over the next few months. Lacking any major fundamental catalysts, the price will likely take cues from the overall crypto market direction. If Bitcoin and other majors can regain momentum, XLM could ride their coattails back up to the $0.15 level. However, additional macroeconomic uncertainty could keep pressure on the space, dragging XLM back towards the July lows around $0.09.

Longer-term, I remain bullish on Stellar based on its strong partnerships and real-world utility. Once the current bear market shakes out, I expect XLM will regain its upside momentum and outperform many other altcoins. Key levels to watch will be the all-time high near $0.90 and the 1.618 Fibonacci extension around $1.25. However, the token likely needs another 12-18 months of consolidation and growth before reaching these prices.

How Does Stellar's Partnership With MoneyGram Benefit XLM Holders?

Stellar's partnership with money transfer company MoneyGram was announced in early 2022 and aims to facilitate near real-time cross-border payments using Stellar's blockchain. This is a big validation of Stellar's technology and could ultimately drive significant adoption for XLM and increase its utility.

For XLM holders, the MoneyGram partnership provides two key benefits:

1. Increased real-world usage of the Stellar network should lead to higher demand for XLM tokens over time. As more transactions occur on the network, more XLM will be needed to pay fees. This rising utility could apply upward pressure on XLM's price.
2. MoneyGram will purchase XLM tokens and distribute them to users as rewards for using its services on Stellar. This will directly increase buying pressure on XLM as MoneyGram continually acquires tokens to pass on to customers. Even moderate success with Stellar integration could make MoneyGram a significant buyer of XLM.

Overall, by demonstrating XLM's ability to power fast, low-cost cross-border transactions at an enterprise scale, the MoneyGram partnership lends further credibility to Stellar as a payments network. As adoption grows, XLM holders stand to benefit from both increased token demand and more XLM distribution.

Will Faster Transaction Speeds Make Stellar a Top 3 Cryptocurrency?

With transaction speeds of just 2-5 seconds, Stellar is one of the fastest blockchain networks available today. This gives it a major advantage for payments and financial applications where speed is critical. However, transaction speed alone is unlikely to propel XLM into the top 3 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization in the near future for several reasons:

• Competition from other fast networks like Solana, Avalanche, and Terra could limit how much Stellar can differentiate on speed alone. These rivals also offer significant capabilities beyond just transactions per second.
• Network effects and first-mover advantage give Bitcoin and Ethereum a tremendous lead over newer chains like Stellar. It will take years of growth for Stellar to truly rival their dominance.
• Real-world usage and adoption drive long-term value more than benchmarks like transaction speeds. Stellar needs high-profile partnerships and integrations that drive steady utilization growth among enterprises and consumers.
• Market sentiment heavily influences token prices and rankings in the short term. Speculative manias can propel other cryptocurrencies higher regardless of Stellar's capabilities.

That said, over the long run consistent execution by the Stellar Development Foundation to improve the network and cultivate adoption could allow XLM to enter the top 5. Its speed and low fees make it well-suited for micropayments, remittances, and fintech applications. Capturing even a small slice of the massive payments market could ultimately propel XLM into the upper echelon of cryptocurrencies. But it will take time and flawless execution on both technology and partnerships to get there.