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Crypto network guide
The Stellar Network, Explained
Quick answer
Stellar is a payments-first network running since 2014. Its consensus protocol closes a ledger every 5 seconds with instant finality and fees of 0.00001 XLM, and it hosts native USDC used in real remittance corridors. XLM is the native asset that pays fees and reserves.
Updated August 2026 · Reviewed by the Anytime Capital trading desk
Stellar at a glance
- Launched
- 2014
- Consensus
- Stellar Consensus Protocol (federated agreement, no mining)
- Block time
- ~5 seconds per ledger
- Typical transfer time
- 3–10 seconds
- Typical network fee
- Under a cent – cents
- Native asset
- Stellar Lumens (XLM)
Network fee: The base fee is 0.00001 XLM per operation — effectively free at any 2025–2026 price. Third-party network figures, not Anytime Capital pricing — our pricing is on the fees & limits page.
How long does a Stellar transfer take?
Stellar closes a ledger about every 5 seconds and transactions are final on inclusion — transfers land in seconds for a fee of 0.00001 XLM. Like XRP, the only real wait is the receiving platform's crediting process, and the only real risk is a forgotten memo on exchange deposits.
Compare every chain on one page: how long crypto transfers take on every major network.
What is Stellar actually for?
Stellar was built for one job: moving money — especially fiat-linked assets — quickly and nearly free. Its design centers on issued assets: dollars, euros, and other currencies represented on-ledger by regulated issuers, with a built-in decentralized exchange for converting between them. That's why Stellar's flagship asset isn't a DeFi token but native USDC, and why its marquee integrations are remittance rails like MoneyGram's global cash network.
The memo rule (read this before depositing)
Stellar inherits the same pooled-wallet pattern as XRP: exchanges receive all customer deposits at one G… address and rely on the memo you attach to credit the right account. Forget the memo on an exchange deposit and your funds sit unmatched until support intervenes — the most common Stellar support ticket by far.
Two habits eliminate the risk entirely: copy the address and the memo together whenever a platform shows both, and send a small test first on any new route. Self-custody transfers between personal wallets don't use memos at all.
Reserves and account activation
Stellar requires a small XLM base reserve (1 XLM, plus 0.5 XLM per additional trustline or ledger entry) for each account — an anti-spam design like XRP's, at a much lower level. A brand-new wallet must receive at least the reserve before it activates, and adding an asset like USDC requires establishing a trustline backed by that extra half-lumen.
Stablecoins on Stellar
| Stablecoin | Standard | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
.svg){kind=small} USDCUSD Coin | Stellar asset | Major | Circle issues native USDC on Stellar; it powers remittance corridors (e.g. MoneyGram's crypto cash-out network) |
Stellar deposits need a memo
Exchanges pool XLM and USDC-on-Stellar deposits in shared wallets and use the memo field to route funds to your account. Depositing to an exchange without the memo strands the funds in the platform's pooled wallet until support manually intervenes. Sends to self-custody wallets need no memo.
What does a Stellar address look like?
| Format | Looks like | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Public key | Starts with G (56 characters) | Exchange deposits usually require an accompanying memo |
Buy XLM or stablecoins on Stellar — the #1 place to buy crypto with a debit card, wire, Apple Pay & more
Anytime Capital is a US-based money services business with thousands of customers. Debit and credit cards from every major US bank work here, verification takes minutes, and delivery goes straight to the Stellar address you choose.
- Wire transfer
- Cash in person
Digital assets are not FDIC-insured, are not bank deposits, and may lose value. Availability and limits subject to identity verification and compliance review.
Stellar network questions
About XLM
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