- Stellar (XLM) notably surpassed Bitcoin Cash (BCH) in market capitalization, now ranking as the 16th largest cryptocurrency.
- This follows XRP, Solana, Cardano, and Stellar’s inclusion after being included in the Nasdaq Crypo U.S. Settelement Price Index.
Institutional interest in digital assets is on the rise, and four major cryptocurrencies—XRP, Solana (SOL), Cardano (ADA), and Stellar (XLM)—are now in the spotlight following their inclusion in the Nasdaq Crypto U.S. Settlement Price Index.
Among the four, Stellar (XLM) has overtaken Bitcoin Cash (BCH) in market capitalization. According to CoinMarketCap, Stellar now boasts a market cap of approximately $8.4 billion, slightly ahead of Bitcoin Cash’s $8.25 billion.
This achievement positions Stellar as the 16th largest cryptocurrency and highlights a broader trend of increasing institutional focus on utility-driven blockchain networks.
The Nasdaq index reconstitution, which serves as the basis for the Hashdex Nasdaq Crypto Index U.S. ETF, played a pivotal role in this reshuffling. By adding Stellar alongside XRP, Solana, Cardano, Bitcoin, and Ethereum, the index enhances visibility and access to these assets for institutional investors.
This listing is not merely symbolic, it could translate to increased capital inflows, improved liquidity, and heightened market stability for the included tokens.
Stellar’s surge isn’t just about numbers. Its blockchain is designed to facilitate fast, low-cost cross-border payments and the tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs). Operating across 70+ countries, Stellar has processed over $17 billion in transaction volume, with $522 million in assets currently tokenized on-chain.
Its ongoing development of the Soroban smart contract platform, focused on scalability and developer usability, further strengthens its ecosystem.
Similarly, XRP, SOL, and ADA have continued to draw attention for their unique technical propositions. XRP remains central to Ripple’s cross-border payment infrastructure, despite regulatory hurdles. Solana stands out for its high-speed transactions and robust NFT and DeFi ecosystems.
Cardano, known for its methodical development approach, continues expanding its smart contract capabilities and global reach.
The Nasdaq index inclusion collectively elevates these projects in the eyes of institutional investors, legitimizing them as more than speculative assets. With ETFs and index funds increasingly becoming the gateway for traditional finance to enter the crypto space, inclusion in such indices can be a powerful catalyst for growth.
In contrast, Bitcoin Cash has maintained a steady position in the top 20 but lacks the recent momentum seen in Stellar and its peers. Analysts suggest that without major technological upgrades or renewed adoption, BCH may struggle to reclaim higher rankings amid intensifying competition.
In conclusion, the Nasdaq listing represents more than a reshuffle—it marks a new phase of institutional acceptance. With solid fundamentals and increasing utility, XRP, SOL, ADA, and especially Stellar (XLM) are well-poised to capitalize on this exposure and shape the future of blockchain adoption in global finance.