XRP vs Stellar (XLM): How the Two Payment Networks Differ
XRP and Stellar share a co-founder and early code. How they now differ in consensus, supply, who runs them, fees and use cases, from each network's docs.
Video coming soon.
Key takeaways
- Stellar started in 2014 on code from the XRP Ledger and switched to its own Stellar Consensus Protocol in 2015. Jed McCaleb helped create both.
- Ripple is a private company. The Stellar Development Foundation, which supports Stellar, describes itself as a nonprofit.
- Both networks created their full supply at launch. Stellar also had 1% yearly inflation until October 2019 and burned about 55.4 billion XLM in November 2019.
- Fees work differently: XRP Ledger fees are destroyed, while Stellar fees go into a locked account that no one uses.
XRP and Stellar (XLM) are two payment-focused networks with a shared founder and shared early code, but they now run on different consensus rules, have different supply histories and are supported by different kinds of organizations. XRP is backed by Ripple, a private company. Stellar is supported by the Stellar Development Foundation, a nonprofit.
Both promise fast, low-cost transfers across borders, so they are often compared. This guide sets out the facts from each network’s own documentation, without ranking one above the other.
XRP vs Stellar at a glance
| XRP Ledger (XRP) | Stellar (XLM) | |
|---|---|---|
| Launched | 2012 | 2014 |
| Consensus | XRP Ledger consensus, using each server’s Unique Node List (UNL) | Stellar Consensus Protocol (SCP), using quorum slices |
| Original supply | 100 billion XRP | 100 billion XLM |
| Supply changes | No mining. Fees are destroyed | About 5.44 billion added by inflation until 2019, then about 55.4 billion burned |
| Total supply | Below 100 billion and falling slowly with fees | About 50.0 billion (Stellar docs, July 21, 2026) |
| Minimum fee | 10 drops (0.00001 XRP), destroyed | 100 stroops (0.00001 XLM), sent to a locked account |
| Minimum account balance | 1 XRP | 1 XLM |
| Main organization | Ripple (private company) | Stellar Development Foundation (nonprofit) |
Why do XRP and Stellar share a history?
XRP and Stellar share a history because Jed McCaleb helped create both. McCaleb worked on the XRP Ledger with David Schwartz and Arthur Britto, and the ledger went live in 2012. He left the company that became Ripple, and in 2014 he co-founded the Stellar Development Foundation with Joyce Kim.
Stellar first ran on code based on the Ripple protocol. In 2015, Stellar adopted its own Stellar Consensus Protocol. Jed McCaleb’s XRP sales covers what happened to his roughly 9 billion XRP and how Stellar started.
How does consensus differ between the XRP Ledger and Stellar?
The XRP Ledger and Stellar both reach agreement without mining, but they decide whose votes count in different ways.
On the XRP Ledger, each server picks a list of validators it trusts, called a Unique Node List (UNL). Servers revise their proposals until enough trusted validators agree. The XRP Ledger docs say confirming an invalid transaction would require more than 80% of trusted validators to collude. Validators agree on a new ledger every three to five seconds, according to xrpl.org.
Stellar uses the Stellar Consensus Protocol (SCP), a form of federated Byzantine agreement. Each validator chooses its own quorum set, a group of peers it trusts plus how many of them must agree. Stellar’s docs say SCP favors safety over speed, so the network can pause rather than confirm something wrong. How XRP Ledger validators work explains the UNL in more detail.
How does XRP supply compare with XLM supply?
Both XRP and XLM created their full original supply at launch, but XLM’s total changed twice since. According to xrpl.org, 100 billion XRP existed at creation, and Ripple received 80 billion. There is no mining. Each transaction destroys a small fee, so the total edges down over time.
Stellar’s docs describe a different path:
- Launch: an original supply of 100 billion lumens.
- 2014 to 2019: about 1% yearly inflation added about 5.44 billion lumens.
- October 28, 2019: validators voted to end inflation.
- November 4, 2019: the Stellar Development Foundation sent 55,442,095,285.7418 lumens to an address with no signers, removing them permanently.
Stellar’s docs list a total supply of about 50.0 billion XLM as of July 21, 2026. For how XRP’s large holdings are released, see the XRP escrow monthly release.
Who runs XRP and Stellar?
Ripple is the main company behind XRP, and the Stellar Development Foundation is the main organization behind Stellar. Ripple is a private company that builds payment products on the XRP Ledger and holds a large amount of XRP, much of it in escrow.
The Stellar Development Foundation (SDF) describes itself as a nonprofit. Its stated mission is “creating equitable access to the global financial system through blockchain technology.” Stellar’s docs say the SDF holds lumens from the network’s launch and plans to spend or distribute them to grow and promote Stellar.
How do XRP Ledger and Stellar fees compare?
XRP Ledger and Stellar fees start at the same tiny amount, but the fees end up in different places. A standard XRP Ledger transaction costs 10 drops, or 0.00001 XRP. The XRP Ledger docs say this XRP “is irrevocably destroyed.” Stellar’s minimum base fee is 100 stroops, or 0.00001 XLM. Stellar’s docs say fees go into a locked account and “are not given to or used by anyone.”
The XRP Ledger’s docs say its fee can rise when the network is under heavy load. Both networks also require a minimum balance. As of October 2026 it is 1 XRP on the XRP Ledger, and 1 XLM (two base reserves of 0.5 XLM) on Stellar.
What are XRP and Stellar used for?
XRP and Stellar both target cross-border payments, often through stablecoins and payment firms. Ripple’s On-Demand Liquidity uses XRP as a bridge currency, and its payments service also settles in stablecoins and fiat. Both ledgers also let anyone issue tokens, such as stablecoins.
The two networks have sometimes served the same customer. MoneyGram used Ripple’s platform until it suspended trading there in February 2021. In October 2021, MoneyGram announced a partnership with the Stellar Development Foundation to settle with Circle’s USDC on Stellar.
Checklist before sending XRP or XLM
- Check the network. XRP and XLM addresses are not interchangeable. Sending to the wrong network can lose funds.
- Check for a tag or memo. Exchanges often need an XRP destination tag or a Stellar memo to credit your account.
- Know the minimum balance. A new address needs 1 XRP or 1 XLM before it is active.
- Send a small test transaction first, then the rest once it arrives.
See XRP destination tags for the most common mistake.
What to check next
Stellar publishes live supply figures through its developer docs, and xrpl.org lists the XRP Ledger’s current fee and reserve settings. Both networks change their rules through validator votes, so check each network’s own documentation before relying on any number in an older article, including this one.
Sources
Sources
- Understanding Lumens, The Native Currency of the Network, Stellar Development Foundation
- Understanding Fees, Resource Limits, and Metering for Transactions, Stellar Development Foundation
- Overview of the Stellar Consensus Protocol (SCP) and Transaction Validation, Stellar Development Foundation
- What is XRP and Why Is It Valuable?, XRP Ledger Foundation (xrpl.org)
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between XRP and Stellar?
XRP is the native asset of the XRP Ledger, and XLM (lumens) is the native asset of the Stellar network. Both are payment networks with fast, low-cost transfers, but they use different consensus methods, have different supply histories and are supported by different organizations.
Is Stellar a copy of XRP?
Stellar started in 2014 on code based on the Ripple protocol and adopted its own Stellar Consensus Protocol in 2015. Today the two run separate software with different consensus rules.
Who created Stellar and XRP?
Jed McCaleb worked on the XRP Ledger with David Schwartz and Arthur Britto, and it went live in 2012. He later co-founded Stellar with Joyce Kim in 2014.
How many XLM are there?
Stellar's developer docs list a total supply of about 50.0 billion XLM as of July 21, 2026. Supply fell from over 105 billion after the Stellar Development Foundation burned about 55.4 billion lumens on November 4, 2019.
Are Stellar and XRP fees the same?
The minimums are similar. A standard XRP Ledger transaction costs 10 drops (0.00001 XRP), and Stellar's minimum base fee is 100 stroops (0.00001 XLM). XRP fees are destroyed, while Stellar fees go into a locked account.
Education and commentary only, not financial advice. Crypto is volatile and you can lose money. Do your own research and speak to a qualified advisor before making investment decisions. Figures are as of November 2, 2026 and may have changed since.
