XLMUSDT
Stellar Lumens / Tether USD
crypto Composite

As I see it as user, there are risks of several kinds.
There's the background risk of problems/bugs with Stellar itself, which I'd say is pretty low.
Then there's a risk of bugs in the Blend code, which by now I'd say is also low. There have been multiple audits and an active dev team, and over a year of track record. 
Then there are operational risks.
If you only supply funds and gain interest, I'd say that's pretty low. Bad debts are covered by liquidation auctions and the backstops.
If you put funds in the backstop, there is a risk that the backstop funds are needed to cover bad debt, but only if the liquidation auctions don't succeed in selling the bad debt off.
That risk is the trade-off for the high yield.
If the blend token devalues, the value of your backstop deposit will also drop. But likewise, it may grow.
Finally, for supplying and borrowing, the risk depends a lot on what you do with it.
If you supply XLM to borrow USDC, buy XLM with that to supply and borrow more USDC, you can leverage yourself a lot. And win big or lose big, depending on what XLM price does.
But that risk is not a risk from Blend.
If you just supply for the passive interest, you have no leverage risk.
In summary: I didn't put my life savings in it, but
I did put my annual bonus payment in last year.
Split between backstop and simple supplying for interest for a mixed strategy. Simple, and no regrets yet. 

I hate for it to be true, but I think I've reached the same conclusion.
In my opinion:
We won't see a sustained relative increase in $ per XLM until we reach some form of functional scarcity. When 50B Lumens becomes a constraint in the form of velosity or volume.
I think about taking profits with the next irrational hype cycle, but I'll probably just hold long and sit on my hands in order to keep my tax/accounting simple.
Don't spend what you're not willing to lose 🤷‍♂️
Here's my optimistic take: I'm excited to build and fund a project using my personal XLM reserve. My seed phrase is like the deed to my own little digital oil field, but I have no idea yet how I'll make it useful, lol.
The real value that anyone will realize from XLM is how they choose to integrate/employ it.

Stellar’s Epic 172% RWA Surge Meets Fierce XLM Sell Wall

Why would it mention XLM by name? Then the foreshadowing would be a straight up prediction and not allow profit because everyone would know xlm is the future.
The Conspiratorial idea is that hints are given that it will play a role in the future.
"The IMF and World Bank would create their own system before giving power to The Stellar Foundation" Just like the Central Banks would never allow Bitcoin to thrive because all they would have to do is make it illegal showing its used as terrorist money. So why didn't they? Profit, and being able to change the financial system to their liking. The idea is the Fed and Central Banks, "Elites" or whoever is behind the scenes were the earliest investors in Bitcoin and want it to succeed and it most likely wasn't created by some random solo Asian man.
Then the report to the people is that the people are in control and decentralization is winning. That's the sales pitch to get everyone to accept the new system so they have more control with money and all value being on DLT tech instead of in the physical.
The same early whale Bitcoin Genesis BTC investors, "Satoshi probably held, hold, and also are behind the idea/ creation of XRP, XLM, HBAR etc.
The greatest trick is for decentralization and the people to defeat the big banks and current financial system to label it as "financial freedom". Again this is a win win win for the big dogs.
Win #1-They profit immensely off of BTC XLM XRP becoming backbone assets of the financial industry.
Win #2-We are now all recorded financially of DLT tech (The good of this is less fees, less paperwork, more speed, more transparency, more convenience), cash dies, and more people invest their money in these digital assets which not only solidifies them and gives the their credibility, but also leaves less money for investment in precious metals and land which they are trying to own all of.
Win #3- It fools the people into thinking the people behind IMF World Bank, and Central Banks, and/or the creators and people running the financial system don't have crazy amounts of power because we are changing to a more decentralized finance system (when really they are in control and just changing the system). Which will be part true and untrue at the same time. That's the trick.
This is just one of the conspiratorial thoughts behind the process of changing the world financial system happening today slowly but surely. Not saying its right or wrong. Just a thought of explanation.

Payment tokens in terms of investment purposes, at this point, in 2026, are a guaranteed losing battle. Referencing the issuance of stable coins upon the XLM ledger to be used separately by 3rd as something that is majorly bullish is very misinformed.
The concept of a bridge currency was incredibly innovative in the early days of crypto. But now, thinking a moon will happen, when all major financial institutions are parking value in stable coins for these financial transfer purposes, publicly and with no regard for a “bridge currency” , is an objectively poor investment to make.
Overwhelming majority are going for other chains anyway. And there’s nobody using XLM for separate Dapps to drive seperate value, and other chains do have this.
It’s a losing battle in the long run unfortunately.
Curious if this is like the XRP sub and i’ll get banned for having a different opinion lmao

That story is old and it doesn't even mention XLM by name. It was from 1998. The IMF and World Bank would create their own system before giving power to The Stellar Foundation