Stellar (XLM) has seen sharp price action at the start of December. Traders noticed strong activity that helped drive a short-term price jump. Market participants pointed to early positioning by major players as a key reason behind the move.
The token reached a high of $0.25 before pulling back. As of now, Stellar is trading at around $0.231, with a 24-hour volume of over $170 million.
Early December Trading Driven by Market Maker Activity
Weekend trading showed increased sell-side activity, according to analysts. Market participants suggest that these sell orders were absorbed to prepare for a new price movement.
According to trader Composite Trader Larskooistra, “All sells got filled over the weekend and that is also exactly the reason why price can move so aggressively on the weekly open.” This suggests that larger traders had already positioned ahead of the move.
Many traders consider aggressive moves on the open as signs that specialists or market makers may have entered the market earlier. These actions often set the tone for short-term trends at the beginning of a new month.
Price Reaction and Short-Term Pullback
Despite the weekend’s strong expansion, XLM has now dropped by over 8% in the past 24 hours. Data from Brave New Coin shows that the token is facing pressure, with price action showing weakness near key support levels.
"The selloff pulls the coin back toward multi-month support levels,” Brave New Coin noted, adding that both price and derivatives data show “a clear deterioration in bullish conviction.”
The current market shows caution, and traders appear to be reducing risk exposure. The decline follows a broader market cooldown as multiple assets face resistance. Risk sentiment across the crypto space may be contributing to the pullback in Stellar’s price.
Although short-term momentum has faded, the earlier move at the start of December gave a 4% net gain. Market watchers say such moves are not uncommon during the first few days of a new month when liquidity often shifts.
Outlook Remains Uncertain
While the recent move offered quick gains, price action remains volatile. The recent decline may continue if market sentiment stays weak. Many traders remain cautious as XLM trades near long-term support areas.
In addition, market participants are watching for signs of renewed strength or further decline. Stellar’s early December price activity reflects the ongoing influence of large-volume trading and cautious investor sentiment.