Stellar (XLM)
Layer 1 payments network
Stellar is an open payments network launched in 2014 for moving money and issuing assets such as stablecoins cheaply. XLM pays small network fees and has a fixed supply of about 50 billion after a 2019 burn.
Profile last verified 23 September 2026. Live figures from CoinGecko. Not investment advice.
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What is Stellar?
Stellar was co-founded by Jed McCaleb and is supported by the non-profit Stellar Development Foundation. Validators reach agreement with the Stellar Consensus Protocol, a federated voting system rather than mining.
In 2019 the network ended inflation and the foundation burned about half of the XLM supply, leaving roughly 50 billion.
Key facts
| Ticker | XLM |
|---|---|
| Type | Layer 1 payments network |
| Launched | 2014 |
| Consensus | Stellar Consensus Protocol (federated Byzantine agreement) |
| Supply | About 50 billion XLM; no new issuance since 2019. |
| Official site | stellar.org |
What XLM is used for
- Cross-border payments and remittances
- Issuing stablecoins and tokenized assets
- Low-cost transfers
Main risks
- The Stellar Development Foundation holds a large share of XLM
- Crowded market for payment-focused chains
- Adoption by payment companies is gradual
Related guides
Stellar: frequently asked questions
- Is Stellar related to XRP?
- They share history: Jed McCaleb co-founded Ripple before starting Stellar, and both target payments. They are separate networks.
- Can new XLM be created?
- No. Inflation was switched off by a network vote in 2019.
- What is Stellar used for?
- Moving money across borders and issuing digital versions of assets, including USDC and other stablecoins.