Ethereum News Today: NEAR HBAR XLM Lead Altseason 2025 Momentum With Institutional Gains

Analysts are increasingly spotlighting altcoins as the crypto market braces for Altseason 2025. NEAR, Hedera (HBAR), and Stellar (XLM) are among the top choices for momentum in this cycle, each offering compelling fundamentals and institutional traction. These projects are seen as strong candidates to benefit from broader market optimism and upcoming technical developments [1].

NEAR Protocol has demonstrated significant momentum, with a surge in trading volume and user activity. Inflows of $7.6 million in recent weeks have underscored renewed interest from both retail and institutional investors. Weekly active users increased by 18.4% to 16 million, surpassing Solana for the first time. This growth is attributed to improved developer tools, cross-chain integrations, and expanding use cases in AI and DeFi. An upcoming network upgrade on August 18 and a proposed reduction in annual inflation from 5% to 2.5% are expected to further enhance scalability and tokenomics [2].

Hedera (HBAR) is emerging as a key player in tokenized finance. A recent partnership with Swarm enables instant settlement of tokenized stocks, offering a faster alternative to traditional two-day settlement processes. The platform’s efficiency—settling transactions in 3–5 seconds—has attracted interest from institutional investors. Speculation is also rising around a potential HBAR ETF, with Nasdaq filing for a spot ETF backed by Canary Capital and BlackRock reportedly involved. These developments are seen as steps toward mainstream adoption and broader retail investor access [1].

Stellar (XLM) is gaining attention for its role in real-world asset tokenization. The Stellar Development Foundation recently invested in Archax, a UK-regulated platform, to integrate XLM into its tokenization infrastructure. This follows WisdomTree’s $99 billion fund deployment on Stellar, reinforcing its position in institutional finance. Upcoming Protocol 23 upgrade, scheduled for a mainnet vote on September 3, is expected to boost scalability and developer activity. Analysts view these technical improvements and enterprise partnerships as key drivers for XLM’s long-term adoption [3].

While NEAR, HBAR, and XLM dominate the narrative, MAGACOIN Finance is also generating buzz for its breakout potential. The project has attracted attention through its active presale and projected returns on investment. Analysts see it as a speculative option for traders seeking early-stage opportunities, though it remains outside the mainstream focus [2].

The growing emphasis on altcoins reflects a broader market shift, with investors diversifying away from major assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum. As Altseason 2025 approaches, the performance of NEAR, HBAR, and XLM will be closely tracked for signs of sustained momentum and institutional adoption [4].

Sources:

[1] https://crypto-economy.com/top-3-altcoins-for-altseason-momentum-near-hbar-stellar-xlm-picked-by-analysts/

[2] https://intellectia.ai/news/crypto/3-altcoins-to-ride-the-2025-altseason-wave--analysts-pick-near-hbar-and-stellar-xlm

[3] https://www.mexc.com/en-GB/news/3-altcoins-to-ride-the-2025-altseason-near-hbar-stellar-xlm-picked-by-analysts/73867

[4] https://blockchair.com/uk/news/the-best-new-altcoin-to-buy-in-2025-as-ethereum-eth-binance-coin-bnb-ripple-xrp-lose-their-shine--282e5c6149c69cba