Stellar, a blockchain company that drives high-speed, low-cost, and energy-efficient transactions, has announced a series of developments that have made it hard to ignore momentum, from regional partnerships to real-world asset (RWA) integration.
On April 17, 2025, Aeon Group, South Asia’s largest retail conglomerate, announced a partnership with the Stellar Development Foundation (SDF), to facilitate the adoption and implementation of blockchain-based payment infrastructure across the region.
Through this collaboration, companies hope to bring XLM and USDC payments to Aeon Store. The project will begin in Malaysia and will slowly flow down across Southeast Asia when the pilot project begins in the second half of 2025.
The partnership will focus on the deployment of USDC, a Stablecoin issued by Circle, to strengthen the crypto-on lamp from Fiat. The move is expected to encourage the movement of the local unbanked population in order to be deeply integrated within the blockchain network. Users who are passionate about immediate, cost-effective transactions without the limitations of traditional banking systems are expected to adapt quickly to this project.
#aeon partner @stellarorg and @buildonstellar Accelerate the global #cryptopayments!
I’m currently supporting it $ xlm & #stellar-USDC has expanded to Africa and Ratum across 10K+ brands and 20m+ QR compatible stores in Southeast Asia.
Crypto payments are now simpler, faster and more global.
… pic.twitter.com/2lzv7livk2
– aeon.xyz (@aeon_community) April 17, 2025
Through the partnership, both Stellar and Aeon intend to implement blockchain capabilities to showcase possible transformations in legacy payment systems in large retail environments. Stellar’s technology serves as the underlying protocol for payments and cross-border remittances.
Additionally, Stellar has announced well-known partnerships with leading industry players in Decentralized Finance (DEFI) and Traditional Finance (TRADFI), including MasterCard, Stripe and Paxos.
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Market demand for rising star tokens
In response to the growing importance of the stellar ecosystem on the development front, market activity shows strong investor demand.
The recent 49.5 million token-on-chain transfers have analysts suggesting a possible whale accumulation. Its purpose remains unknown, but the enormous amount of trade indicates an increase in market demand for Stellar’s native tokens.
But what’s interesting is that this activity is not alone. The whales reportedly attracted attention when they moved 245 million xLM in under five minutes, just 48 hours before the latest movement. One example of where a whale moved 90 million x LM into a dead wallet was particularly distinguished. At current market prices, a single transfer of 90 million XLM is valued at $21 million, representing a substantial amount of token removal from the active circulation.
Whale’s confidence, stable prices and calculated token manipulation have been the stage for Stellar’s potential growth and adoption within today’s contested cryptocurrency market.
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SDF sets the sights for global payments and asset tokenization. defi
In parallel with this expansion of real-world utilities, Stellar expects a $3 billion inflow of RWA tokenized into blockchain in 2025. The forecast reflects the growing institutional interest in leveraging Stellar’s infrastructure in on-chain assets such as FIAT currencies, stocks and bonds.
Furthermore, SDF focuses its efforts on three key sectors: global payments, asset symbolization and the development of a safe and efficient defi ecosystem. Tokenization of real assets has gained significant traction as both traditional and cryptocurrency agencies are seeking scalable blockchain networks that can meet regulatory frameworks.
The $3 billion forecast coincides with a shift towards real-world utilities in the broader crypto market, where the emphasis is on sustainable, long-term adoption, as well as speculative trading.
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Key takeout
Stellar will partner with Aeon to enable payments for XLM and USDC in Southeast Asia.
Stellar expects a $3 billion inflow of real-world assets tokenized into blockchain in 2025.
SDF prioritizes global payments, asset tokenization, and Defi ecosystem development.
Post Stellar and Aeon Partnership first appeared in Southeast Asia for 99 Bitcoin with USDC and XLM payments.
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