HBAR and XLM Lead Index

HBAR price prediction improved Friday as Hedera gained 1.4% and Stellar’s XLM added 1.5% to top the CoinDesk 20 performance update, placing the index at 2,125.52, up 0.3% from Thursday’s close, with just 9 of 20 assets trading higher as Bitcoin approached the $76,000 resistance level that has capped every major rally attempt in 2026.

HBAR price prediction improved Friday as both tokens outperformed the CoinDesk 20’s 0.3% gain by a wide margin, with Hedera rising 1.4% and Stellar 1.5% against an index that saw 11 of 20 assets move flat or lower. Bitcoin’s push toward $76,000 drove selective altcoin rotation, and both HBAR and XLM carry the profile that tends to lead early in such moves — payment-layer infrastructure with institutional governance and regulatory credibility.

Near Protocol fell 2.3% as the session’s worst performer, and Polkadot dropped 1.6%. General-purpose Layer-1 networks with slower development cadences underperformed, while tokens with specific near-term catalysts and enterprise backing attracted the session’s marginal buying.

Hedera’s volume surge to $103 million — up 57.6% on the day — signals targeted positioning rather than passive drift alongside BTC. Several catalysts have built in the ecosystem since March. McLaren Racing joined the Hedera Governing Council in March 2026 as a full voting member, committing to digital collectibles programs across the F1 and IndyCar seasons and giving the network access to a global sports audience.

The Canary Capital HBAR ETF, trading on Nasdaq under the ticker HBR since October 28, 2025, accumulated $93.21 million in cumulative ETF inflows by early 2026, making HBAR the third cryptocurrency to achieve US spot ETF status. Hedera’s governing council includes Google, IBM, Boeing, NVIDIA, and ServiceNow. The network has processed over $10 billion in real-world asset settlements including tokenized bonds and cross-border payments, giving it a fundamental utility base that most mid-cap altcoins lack.

Analyst JAVON MARKS noted this week that a falling wedge breakout pattern forming across altcoin charts is “starting to look familiar to past cycles,” writing: “This looks like the beginning stages of a 2026 alt-season.” Payment-layer and enterprise-governance tokens with institutional backing tend to lead early rotation before broader index participation catches up.

What Drove XLM Higher

Stellar’s move comes off three back-to-back catalysts in five days. Protocol 26 “Yardstick” launched on testnet April 16, introducing benchmarking tools and improved host functions designed to enhance network performance and developer capabilities, with a mainnet governance vote scheduled for May 6. LOBSTR Wallet, serving over 1.5 million users, added XRP Ledger support the same day, enabling Stellar users to manage XRP, RLUSD, and XLM in a single interface.

On April 13, Stellar integrated the EURAU stablecoin, a MiCAR-compliant euro-denominated instrument that extends the network’s reach into European institutional settlement, a market where Hedera has also been expanding through Archax’s tokenized UK gilt integrations.

What to Watch Before April 22

Both tokens remain directionally tied to Bitcoin and the macro calendar. The April 22 Iran ceasefire expiry is the nearest binary. A credible extension maintains the risk-on environment that is driving altcoin rotation; a breakdown would likely push HBAR and XLM toward their 2026 trading lows. NEAR Protocol’s 2.3% decline Thursday may reflect early positioning for a more cautious outcome. Any BTC daily close above $76,000 would be the clearest short-term bullish signal for broader altcoin follow-through.