Is Stellar (XLM) a Stealth Buy for 2027?

In the ever-shifting landscape of blockchain and global finance, Stellar (XLM) has quietly positioned itself as a critical infrastructure layer for cross-border payments and institutional-grade financial operations. As the world grapples with the need for faster, cheaper, and more compliant financial systems, Stellar's unique value proposition-low-cost transactions, regulatory adaptability, and strategic partnerships-has made it a stealth contender for long-term growth. This article argues that XLM is not just a speculative play but a utility-driven asset with the potential to deliver steady, low-volatility returns by 2027, particularly for investors betting on the blockchain's role in reshaping global money movement.

Network Fundamentals: The Bedrock of Utility-Driven Growth

Stellar's core strength lies in its ability to solve real-world problems at scale. The network processes transactions in under 3 seconds with fees averaging less than a penny per transfer, making it one of the most cost-efficient blockchains for high-volume use cases like cross-border payments and stablecoin issuance. In 2025, Stellar's Soroban smart contract platform further expanded its utility, enabling developers to build DeFi applications and tokenize real-world assets (RWAs) without compromising speed or security.

By Q2 2025, Stellar had already tokenized over $400 billion in RWAs, with projections suggesting the market could reach $1 trillion by 2030. This growth is not just theoretical: institutions are increasingly treating Stellar as a rails layer for digital assets, from tokenized money market funds to EUR-backed stablecoins. The network's ability to balance scalability with compliance-ready infrastructure has made it a go-to solution for enterprises navigating complex regulatory environments.

Institutional Partnerships: The Proof of Concept

Stellar's institutional adoption in 2025 underscores its role as a bridge between traditional finance and blockchain. PayPal's launch of its stablecoin, PYUSD, on Stellar in June 2025 marked a pivotal moment, leveraging the network's speed and low fees to power its "PayFi" ecosystem. Similarly, Franklin Templeton tokenized over $270 million of its OnChain U.S. Government Money Fund on Stellar, demonstrating the network's appeal for institutional-grade liquidity and transparency.

Societe Generale-FORGE's integration of its EUR-backed stablecoin, EURCV, onto Stellar in 2025 further highlighted the platform's adaptability to EU regulatory frameworks. Meanwhile, MoneyGram's use of Stellar to enable cash-to-crypto and crypto-to-cash services at 30,000 global retail locations has expanded financial access for unbanked populations. IBM's World Wire, which processes cross-border settlements in over 50 countries using Stellar, has cemented the network's institutional credibility.

These partnerships are not isolated experiments-they represent a systemic shift toward blockchain-based infrastructure for global finance. As more institutions tokenize assets and issue stablecoins, Stellar's role as a low-cost, high-throughput settlement layer becomes increasingly indispensable.

Cross-Border Payments: The $10 Trillion Problem

The cross-border payment market, valued at over $10 trillion annually, is plagued by inefficiencies: high fees, slow settlement times, and fragmented systems. Stellar's solution is elegant in its simplicity: a decentralized network that enables near-instant, low-cost transactions across borders.

MoneyGram's integration with Stellar is a case study in this value proposition. By leveraging Stellar's infrastructure, MoneyGram has reduced the cost of cross-border remittances by up to 70% in certain corridors, making it feasible for users in developing markets to send and receive money in minutes rather than days. IBM's World Wire, which uses Stellar to settle transactions in fiat-backed stablecoins, has similarly demonstrated the network's ability to streamline international trade and reduce counterparty risk.

As central banks and fintechs increasingly adopt blockchain for cross-border workflows, Stellar's network effects will compound. The more institutions that build on Stellar, the more it becomes the default infrastructure for global payments-a flywheel effect that drives long-term value accrual.

Price Projections: A Conservative-to-Bullish Outlook

From a price perspective, Stellar's fundamentals suggest a steady, utility-driven growth trajectory. According to price projections from 2025 to 2027, XLM could range from $0.30–$0.36 in a bearish scenario to $0.90–$1.10 in a bullish case, depending on adoption and macroeconomic conditions.

Let's model a hypothetical investment: If an investor acquires 4,389 XLM for $1,000 today (assuming a price of ~$0.228 per XLM), the value of this position could grow significantly by 2027. Under a neutral scenario where XLM reaches $0.70, the investment would be worth ~$3,072. In a bullish case where XLM hits $1.10, the same position would grow to ~$4,828. If adoption accelerates beyond current projections and XLM reaches $1.82 (a 70% premium to the upper 2027 bullish range), the investment could approach $8,000.

These scenarios highlight Stellar's potential as a low-volatility, infrastructure-focused play. Unlike speculative assets that rely on hype cycles, XLM's value is tied to real-world usage: every stablecoin issued, every cross-border payment processed, and every RWA tokenized on Stellar contributes to its long-term utility and demand.

Conclusion: A Stealth Buy for the Long Haul

Stellar's 2025 progress-from institutional-grade partnerships to cross-border payment adoption-has laid the groundwork for sustained growth. As global finance continues its migration to blockchain, Stellar's role as a cost-efficient, compliance-ready infrastructure layer will become even more critical.

For investors seeking a low-volatility, utility-driven play on this transition, XLM offers a compelling case. While it may not capture the same headlines as Ethereum or Bitcoin, its focus on real-world applications and institutional adoption positions it as a stealth buy for 2027. In a world where the winners are those who build the rails, Stellar is already laying the tracks.