- Stellar (XLM) has surpassed Shiba Inu (SHIB) in market capitalization, reflecting growing institutional interest and real-world utility.
- With both XLM and XRP embedded in ISO 20022 and IEEE standards, they are positioned as foundational technologies in the future of blockchain-integrated finance.
Stellar (XLM) has overtaken Shiba Inu (SHIB) in market capitalization, signaling a potential shift in investor sentiment and long-term blockchain utility. According to the latest CoinMarketCap data, Stellar now sits as the 15th largest cryptocurrency, boasting a market cap of $9 billion, compared to SHIB’s $8.55 billion, placing it in 16th position.
While the margin remains slim, the move underscores Stellar’s growing relevance in the rapidly evolving landscape of blockchain-enabled finance.
This flip in rankings comes amid increasing recognition of Stellar and Ripple’s (XRP) deeper integration into traditional finance systems. Crypto researcher SMQKE recently highlighted how both XLM and XRP are embedded within global standards shaping the future of digital payments infrastructure.
According to SMQKE, Stellar and Ripple are not merely projects riding the speculative crypto wave, they are foundational technologies aligned with global interoperability standards.
‼️ HOW RIPPLE AND STELLAR ARE ALREADY WIRED INTO THE FUTURE OF FINANCE ‼️
Ripple and Stellar are already embedded in the global standards guiding how blockchain networks connect to the financial system.✅
Here’s how:
The ISO 20022 messaging format is now the foundation for… https://t.co/86SMX3J3Yg pic.twitter.com/MIOde0ExLb
— SMQKE (@SMQKEDQG) May 26, 2025
One of the most critical milestones for both projects is their reference within the ISO 20022 financial messaging framework. ISO 20022 has become the global standard for structuring data in financial communications. Ripple and Stellar’s compliance with this protocol enables them to seamlessly interact with legacy banking systems, making them prime candidates for central bank digital currency (CBDC) platforms and cross-border payment systems.
Furthermore, both Ripple and Stellar are named in IEEE’s blockchain reference architecture (IEEE 4210), a highly respected guide used by regulators and engineers to design secure and scalable blockchain infrastructure. Stellar’s consensus protocol and Ripple’s consensus mechanism are cited as viable alternatives to traditional proof-of-work or proof-of-stake models — a nod to their efficiency and suitability for regulated environments.
Meanwhile, Stellar’s own metrics reveal increasing utility and reliability. In Q1 alone, Stellar DeFi handled over 471.2 million operations and 147 million transactions, with more than 2,182 consecutive days of network stability, according to official data. This performance bolsters investor confidence in XLM as a long-term asset.
SHIB, on the other hand, is not without its strengths. IntoTheBlock data shows that 78% of SHIB addresses are long-term holders, and whale activity has surged over 60% in the past 24 hours, suggesting big players are still watching closely.
However, as the market matures and utility becomes the core metric of value, meme coins like SHIB may face increasing pressure from fundamentally integrated assets like XLM and XRP.
As institutions look toward blockchain for compliance-friendly infrastructure, Stellar and Ripple are already part of the blueprint. Their integration into ISO and IEEE standards suggests that the future of finance may be built upon their technology, not just as alternatives, but as embedded components in the next era of global financial systems