Peter Brandt Once Mocked XRP, Now Chooses Stellar as His Long-Shot Pick

Peter Brandt, a veteran trader known for his critical views on XRP, has selected Stellar (CRYPTO:XLM) as his long-shot pick for cryptocurrency on September 29, 2026. This choice is noteworthy given that both Stellar and XRP (CRYPTO:XRP) are designed to facilitate fast and affordable cross-border money transfers.

After Brandt’s announcement, XLM surged 11%, driven by both the news and a growing trend toward institutional adoption. However, by October 1, the price settled back to around $0.22. So how much should Stellar investors weigh this well-known trader’s opinion?

Peter Brandt Calls Stellar a Multi-Year Long Shot

Brandt described Stellar as a multi-year long shot, indicating it’s an idea with a low probability of success but the potential for high rewards if it pays off. His remarks suggest a patient, speculative position that could evolve over several years, and he has not disclosed whether he owns any XLM himself.

Stellar operates as a payments blockchain, with XLM covering its minimal transaction fees. Banks, fintech companies, and money-transfer organizations utilize Stellar to issue digital currencies and move them almost instantly. This setup is familiar to XRP supporters, as Jed McCaleb, who co-founded Ripple, also co-founded Stellar in 2014, making them direct competitors in the cross-border payments arena.

For those interested in XLM but who prefer to avoid the complexities of a crypto wallet, there’s the Grayscale Stellar Lumens Trust (OTC: GXLM), which holds XLM and files with the SEC. However, its shares may trade above or below the underlying coin’s actual value.

Stellar Gained 27% in a Month but Trades 75% Below Its Record

Stellar’s upward trend began before Brandt’s announcement, as XLM rose 27.1% over the past month, significantly outpacing XRP’s 9.9% growth in the same timeframe. Stellar’s price even broke above its 50-week average while XRP struggled to keep up.

On September 25, a 13% increase helped Stellar surpass Bitcoin Cash (CRYPTO: BCH) in market value, and on September 28, right before Brandt made his call, the network achieved a record transaction speed.

However, the bigger picture looks less impressive. XLM’s current price is still about 74.5% below its all-time high of about 88 cents in January 2018, while XRP’s price is 58.9% below its peak of $3.65 in July 2025. This means Brandt’s pick highlights a coin that has underperformed further from its highs compared to the asset he critiques.

Currently, Stellar boasts a market value of $7.8 billion, just one-twelfth of XRP’s $94.5 billion.

Stellar’s $2.75 Billion in Tokenized Assets Outweighs Brandt’s Endorsement

The 11% price jump also coincided with news of institutional advancements, which deserves more focus than Brandt’s endorsement alone. Stellar now hosts about $2.75 billion in tokenized real-world assets, including bonds and fund shares, highlighting businesses’ preference for real utility over speculation driven by a single trader’s name.

While a well-known figure can boost interest in a cryptocurrency for a brief period, real adoption becomes clear over a longer timeframe as banks and payment companies use the network for transactions and asset movement.

Is Peter Brandt’s Stellar Pick a Buy Signal?

Brandt’s endorsement serves more as a conversation starter for research rather than a definitive buy signal. It reflects a trader’s speculative viewpoint on which blockchain might thrive in the coming years. Stellar’s future depends on payment companies and asset issuers continuing to build on its platform, so their offerings will matter far more than any single trader’s assessment.

Investors considering Brandt’s pick must remember that they are dealing with a cryptocurrency that is still 74.5% below its historic highs and has a market value significantly smaller than XRP’s.

If XLM retains most of its 27.1% monthly growth through October, following the buzz around Brandt’s comments, it may suggest buyers are responding to more than just a high-profile name. However, if XLM loses its recent gains, one might question whether Brandt’s endorsement had any lasting impact beyond immediate attention.

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