Optimism is sweeping through the cryptocurrency market as anticipation builds around pro-crypto policies expected from the incoming administration.
This renewed sentiment has created an ideal environment for altcoins to thrive, with two standout cryptocurrencies, Chainlink (LINK) and Stellar Lumens (XLM), showing strong potential to achieve a $25 billion market cap by Q1 2025.
Driving the broader market rally, Bitcoin (BTC) is trading above $104,000 at press time, following a remarkable 10% weekly surge, fueled by positive US macroeconomic data that has reignited investor confidence in riskier assets.
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Riding this momentum, LINK and XLM stand out due to their growing ecosystems, strategic partnerships, and favorable market conditions, positioning them as key assets to watch as they edge closer to this significant milestone.
Chainlink (LINK)
Chainlink, currently priced at $24.63 with a market cap of $15.71 billion, is positioned as a strong candidate to reach a $25 billion market cap by Q1 2025, which would equate to a price of approximately $39.19.
Analysts have set midterm price targets of $43 and $50, reflecting confidence in LINK’s upward momentum and supporting the plausibility of this milestone.
AI projections also lean bullish, with short-term targets between $30 and $35, further supporting the positive market sentiment surrounding Chainlink’s growth trajectory.
This optimism is reinforced by surging whale activity, with 1.35 million LINK tokens valued at $31 million accumulated within 24 hours, signaling growing institutional confidence.
Furthermore, Chainlink’s ecosystem continues to expand through partnerships, such as its collaboration with 21X to integrate tokenized securities in Europe, and the implementation of the CCIP v1.5 upgrade, which significantly enhances cross-chain interoperability.
Additionally, its utility as a universal gas token, offering discounts to high-volume users, has further driven demand within its ecosystem.
With macroeconomic tailwinds such as pro-crypto policies and proposed zero-tax initiatives, Chainlink’s fundamentals and market trends strongly support its trajectory toward a $25 billion market cap, offering a compelling opportunity for both investors and traders.
Stellar Lumens (XLM)
XLM, currently trading at $0.4804 with a market capitalization of $14.63 billion, is also gaining significant attention. To reach a $25 billion market cap, XLM’s price would need to climb to approximately $0.82.
Stellar’s expanding partnerships with MoneyGram, Circle, and various central banks have cemented its role in cross-border payments and blockchain infrastructure.
These collaborations highlight its influence in the digital finance ecosystem, particularly as the market speculates on the impact of potential crypto-friendly policies. XLM’s trajectory is often compared to Ripple’s XRP, with both tokens benefiting from similar narratives tied to payment solutions and regulatory developments.
Additionally, recent analysis positions XLM as a strong buy, with robust RSI metrics and technical indicators signaling sustained bullish momentum for the week, as reported by Finbold.
On the derivatives side, data points to a mixed sentiment. While trading volume has dropped 44.26% to $1.15 billion, and open interest declined by 6.04% to $394.09 million, long positions dominate.
Binance’s long/short ratio stands at 2.413, and OKX reports a ratio of 1.97, signaling a clear preference for upward price movements. Among top traders, Binance’s long/short ratio of 2.4211 further underscores market optimism.
Backed by its fundamentals and bullish sentiment, XLM is well-positioned to achieve a $25 billion market cap, presenting a compelling opportunity for investors and traders alike.
As they continue to build on their ecosystems and benefit from favorable macroeconomic conditions, both LINK and XLM stand out as key assets to watch as they move closer to their $25 billion market cap targets in Q1 2025.
Featured image via Shutterstock
