What is Stellar?

Stellar is an open-source blockchain network designed to facilitate fast, low-cost cross-border payments and asset issuance. It enables the transfer of digital representations of any currency — including dollars, euros, bitcoin, or stablecoins — with near-instant finality and minimal fees.Its native asset, XLM (Lumens), is used to pay transaction fees and facilitate currency exchanges between assets. Stellar is optimized for real-world financial applications like remittances, tokenized fiat, and financial inclusion.

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History

2014: Stellar is co-founded by Jed McCaleb (co-founder of Ripple) and Joyce Kim, with backing from Stripe and the launch of the Stellar Development Foundation (SDF).
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2015: Stellar launches its own protocol and blockchain, moving away from Ripple’s codebase.

2017–2020: Stellar grows as a payment and remittance network, with partnerships including IBM, Tempo, and fintech firms.

2021–2023: Stellar expands into stablecoins (e.g., USDC), CBDC pilot programs, and digital wallets like Vibrant and MoneyGram Access.
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2024: Stellar introduces Soroban, a new smart contract platform, and continues expanding its role in global finance and humanitarian aid.

Technology

Stellar Consensus Protocol (SCP): A federated Byzantine agreement (FBA) system — allows quick, secure consensus without mining or staking.

Fast & Low Cost: Transactions settle in 2–5 seconds and cost a fraction of a cent.
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Asset Issuance: Any token (fiat, stablecoin, crypto, stocks) can be issued natively on Stellar and transferred seamlessly.
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Decentralized Exchange (DEX): Built into the protocol, users can trade any Stellar asset against any other.

Anchors & Bridges: Trusted on- and off-ramps that connect Stellar to fiat currencies and banking systems.

Smart Contracts with Soroban: Stellar’s new smart contract platform (launched 2024), built in Rust, enabling scalable dApps and programmable assets.

Stellar Core: The open-source engine that runs and synchronizes nodes using SCP.

Governance & Community

Stellar Development Foundation (SDF): A nonprofit that maintains the protocol, funds ecosystem projects, and advocates for real-world blockchain adoption.

Open Participation: Anyone can run a validator node, issue an asset, or build on the network.

Global Remittance Focus: Stellar is used for humanitarian payouts, unbanked access, and currency bridges across Africa, LATAM, and Southeast Asia.
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Regulatory Collaboration: Stellar works closely with organizations like the IMF, UNHCR, and central banks to explore stablecoins and CBDCs.

Ecosystem: Includes MoneyGram Access, Circle (USDC), Wirex, Leaf Wallet, Vibrant, and many developer startups.

Tokenomics

Metric	Description
Ticker	XLM (Lumens)
Max Supply	50 billion XLM (fixed supply)
Circulating Supply	~30.8 billion XLM (as of 2025)
Burn Mechanism	In 2019, Stellar burned 50% of total supply; no inflation or future burns planned
Utility	Used for minimum balances, transaction fees, DEX liquidity, and bridging asset transfers
Governance	SDF proposes upgrades; validators vote by choosing what software version to run
Staking Model	No staking or mining — consensus achieved through Stellar Consensus Protocol

Frequently Asked Questions

Question	Answer
What is Stellar?	Stellar is an open-source blockchain focused on fast, low-cost payments and tokenized assets, especially for real-world financial use cases.
What is XLM used for?	XLM pays transaction fees, supports DEX trades, maintains account balances, and facilitates cross-currency swaps.
Is Stellar decentralized?	Yes. While the SDF plays a major role, the network is secured by independent validators and open-source software.
What is Soroban?	Soroban is Stellar’s smart contract platform, launched in 2024, enabling decentralized applications and DeFi protocols on Stellar.
Can I issue tokens on Stellar?	Yes. Stellar allows easy token issuance and transfer for stablecoins, securities, loyalty points, or other assets.
What makes Stellar good for remittances?	Its fast finality, low fees, and integration with fiat anchors and wallets make it ideal for borderless money movement.
Where can I learn more?	Visit stellar.org or developers.stellar.org for docs, wallet tools, and integrations.