Stellar (XLM)
Payments and tokenisation for the world — fast, cheap, and inclusive.
What is Stellar?
Stellar (XLM) is an open-source payment network launched in 2014 by the Stellar Development Foundation (SDF), a non-profit. Co-founded by Jed McCaleb (who also co-founded Ripple before departing), Stellar was designed to facilitate fast, low-cost cross-border payments and asset issuance for financial inclusion — particularly in underbanked markets across Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.
Stellar's consensus mechanism (SCP) achieves finality in 3–5 seconds with transaction fees of 0.00001 XLM (fractions of a cent). Unlike Ripple (which targets banks), Stellar targets individuals and organisations, providing open access to its financial network.
Stellar for Indian Investors
Stellar is often mentioned alongside XRP in discussions about cross-border payment blockchains. Its MoneyGram partnership (which allows cash-to-crypto-to-cash corridors) is relevant for India's large remittance market — India receives more international remittances than any other country. If Stellar-powered corridors expand to India-to-diaspora or diaspora-to-India flows, it could drive meaningful XLM utility.
The Stellar Development Foundation holds approximately 30 billion XLM (60% of total supply) to fund development and ecosystem grants. This large foundation reserve is a key criticism — it creates potential supply overhang. XLM is available on Binance, Bybit, and CoinDCX.
Pros for Indian Investors
- 3–5 second finality, near-zero fees
- Non-profit foundation with clear social mission
- MoneyGram partnership for cash remittances
- Asset issuance for stablecoins and tokenised assets
- Relevant for India's large remittance market
Cons to Consider
- SDF holds 60% of supply — significant centralisation risk
- Competes directly with XRP and CBDC initiatives
- Limited DeFi ecosystem compared to Ethereum alternatives
- Development narrative less exciting than newer chains
Where to Buy Stellar (XLM) in India
Choose a regulated Indian exchange for your first purchase, or use a global exchange via P2P for more coin options and lower fees.
Compare all 10+ crypto exchanges for India with detailed reviews, fees, and signup bonuses.
Learn More: Crypto Terms
Track Stellar in your portfolio
SmartViewAI gives you AI health scores, portfolio grades, concentration alerts, and Telegram notifications for XLM and all your other holdings. Free for Indian investors.