Stellar Advances Privacy Tech With Protocol X-Ray Ahead of January Mainnet Launch

• Stellar introduces the X-Ray upgrade to support zero-knowledge privacy tools and maintain transparency.
• The upgrade adds BN254 and Poseidon, enabling developers to build configurable, privacy-compliant applications.

Stellar is advancing its zero-knowledge infrastructure as the X-Ray upgrade prepares for its network-wide review. According to Stellar’s blog post, Protocol 25 introduces new cryptographic foundations intended to protect privacy-focused tools.

Developers across the network have been clamoring for privacy that aligns with regulatory expectations, and X-Ray is heading in that direction. The upgrade includes native support for the BN254 curve and the Poseidon hash function family, two components widely used in modern ZK architectures.

X-Ray is the first actual implementation of that strategy. It creates an opening for applications that allow the user to decide what data they will share, and network operators maintain the option to verify activity if needed. According to the blog post, “X-Ray, named after the everyday tool used to show only what needs to be seen and nothing more.”

Stellar Developers Gain New Tools

X-Ray sets Stellar in the contest as the established demand moves to programmable confidentiality. The new primitives also support the flexible privacy models, which can be tailored to suit different oversight needs.

Also, there is the availability of pairing-friendly cryptography, which supports compliance-friendly proof designs. Constructors can come up with systems where the users authenticate regulatory requests without revealing identities, balances, or transaction information. As a result, companies seeking privacy-enhanced financial services get a framework that addresses their audit needs.

As we reported recently, Stellar CEO Denelle Dixon cited growing experimentation across the network, with permissionless public blockchains now demonstrating real-world use cases that show actionable progress.

Stellar’s governance calendar is indicative of a methodical rollout. A testnet vote is scheduled for January 7, 2026, allowing developers sufficient time to benchmark performance and ensure everything is compatible. A mainnet vote will follow on January 22, 2026, allowing validators and operators to assess final readiness.

XLM Gains Support as Technical Structure Tightens

Another layer of the narrative was the market’s reaction. XLM increased an impressive 1.04% to $0.24, beating the rest of the market and popping to the charts of technical analysts.

On the technical side, if XLM closes above $0.256 resistance zone, it could lead to a further upside rally.

Analyst Elite Crypto noted that XLM has attracted two similar falling wedges in the current year. The previous wedge ended in a violent breakout. The current pattern is a mirror of that structure and is currently nearing an inflection point.

Crypto Patel also pointed to the multiple bounces of XLM from the $0.20 – $0.22 range. Previous tests of this level had led to rallies of 32%, 53% and 138% which reinforces its importance as a historical demand region. Each reversion to the band has slowed down selling pressure and changed the trend, giving traders yet another reason to watch price behavior closely.