XLM Surges 17.91% as Protocol 23 Upgrade and Institutional Tokenization Drive $2.62B Volume

Stellar (XLM) has experienced a significant price increase in the last 24 hours, with XLMUSDT rising 17.91% to $0.4568 on Binance. The surge is primarily attributed to anticipation surrounding the upcoming Protocol 23 upgrade vote scheduled for August 14, 2025, which will introduce smart contract support through Soroban, as well as recent institutional engagement in tokenization initiatives with Franklin Templeton. Increased trading volume, which reached up to $2.62 billion, and positive market sentiment have further contributed to the rally, positioning Stellar as a top-performing asset and pushing its market capitalization to approximately $14.74 billion. The asset is trading near its 24-hour high, reflecting strong bullish momentum and heightened trader interest.