Stellar (XLM) is consolidating near the $0.17 support level as market anticipation builds for its upcoming Protocol 26 “Yardstick” network upgrade. At press time, XLM traded at approximately $0.1719, showing a 2.75% increase over 24 hours. The Stellar Development Foundation outlined a phased timeline for the upgrade, with key dates including a testnet upgrade on April 16 and a mainnet vote scheduled for May 6.
Stellar’s XLM token is holding steady near a critical support zone after a recent downtrend. The coin is trading above a major horizontal support at approximately $0.157 while facing resistance near $0.173.
Volume remains moderate, indicating trader caution amid the ongoing consolidation phase. The Relative Strength Index shows a gradual recovery, currently around the 52 level.
The Stellar Development Foundation provided an update on the Protocol 26 “Yardstick” upgrade. The foundation stated that the implementation will proceed through a series of planned phases.
Target dates include stable public releases on April 8 and a testnet upgrade on April 16. A mainnet protocol vote is scheduled for May 6, according to the announcement.
“Yardstick (Protocol 26) is coming, introducing new protocol configuration settings,” Stellar stated in a recent social media post. The upgrade aims to provide developers with enhanced flexibility, usability, and network performance.
Market analysts note that XLM’s technical indicators suggest improving momentum as the consolidation continues. The upcoming protocol changes could provide a catalyst for price movement once implementation progresses.
