U.S. Bank has initiated a pilot program to issue its own bespoke stablecoin on the Stellar blockchain, signaling growing confidence from a leading American financial institution in blockchain technology. This trial underscores how regulated banks are leveraging blockchain platforms to enhance settlement processes while adhering to stringent regulatory and compliance standards.
As detailed in a recent report by Messari, U.S. Bank selected Stellar due to its exceptional reliability—with network uptime exceeding 99.99%—and minimal transaction costs that allow payments to be finalized within seconds for just fractions of a cent. Executives emphasized that Stellar’s built-in asset control features, such as the clawback function, were critical factors since they enable issuers to reclaim assets when mandated by legal or consumer protection requirements.
This experiment coincides with significant growth in stablecoin activity on the Stellar network. In 2025 alone, the total market capitalization of stablecoins surged by 53%, climbing from $159 million to $243.6 million—a rise largely fueled by PayPal’s introduction of PYUSD and the expansion of USDC.
.@usbank is piloting issuance of its proprietary stablecoin on Stellar.
The market cap for stablecoins on Stellar jumped 53% year-over-year; meanwhile, real-world asset (RWA) valuations soared 196% reaching $890.2 million according to @MessariCrypto updates.
Full speed ahead! https://t.co/HwcMQ99Wr2
— Stellar (@StellarOrg) January 13, 2026
Stellar Bridges Traditional Finance and Blockchain
The involvement extends beyond banking institutions; Visa recently incorporated three additional stablecoins into their ecosystem while payment providers like Wirex enable card settlements directly on-chain using these digital currencies—bypassing traditional intermediaries altogether. This development positions Stellar as an essential conduit linking conventional payment infrastructures with decentralized settlement networks.
Alongside this surge in stablecoins, issuance of tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) flourished throughout 2025 within the network, pushing their aggregate valuation up to $890.2 million USD. Assets including tokenized U.S Treasury securities, European government bills, and commercial property-backed tokens have been integrated into various decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols supporting lending markets, borrowing facilities, and exchange operations across multiple sectors.
Total value locked (TVL) within DeFi applications reached approximately $172.5 million during this period encompassing platforms offering lending services backed by stablecoins alongside decentralized exchanges providing liquidity pools spanning diverse asset classes—all undergirded by compliant issuance frameworks enabling seamless interaction between traditional financial products and innovative blockchain utilities under controlled environments.
XLM Token Shows Bullish Signs Toward $0.33 Target
At present reporting timepoints around mid-2026 indicate that Stellar’s native cryptocurrency XLM traded near $0.243 reflecting an approximate gain exceeding nine percent over twenty-four hours prior.
Since late November last year technical analysts observe formation resembling an inverse head-and-shoulders pattern emerging prominently across daily charts for XLM/USD pairs — typically interpreted as indicative signals forecasting potential upward momentum shifts.
A decisive close above roughly $0.254 neckline level would reinforce bullish sentiment further setting sights toward next resistance levels near thirty-three cents.
Additionally, technical indicators such as relative strength index hovering around moderate levels (~56) suggest sustained buying interest without overcrowding conditions which often precede price surges.
Meanwhile, MACD&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;;rsquo;s histogram turning positive since December supports interpretation favoring longer-term trend reversals rather than short-lived rallies.</html