What Is Stellar (XLM)?
Stellar is a decentralized payments network designed to make moving money across borders fast, cheap, and accessible. Launched in 2014 by Jed McCaleb (co-founder of Ripple) and the Stellar Development Foundation, Stellar was built to connect banks, payment providers, and people — enabling low-cost transfers and asset issuance on a single global ledger.
Unlike proof-of-work blockchains, Stellar uses a consensus protocol (the Stellar Consensus Protocol, or SCP) that does not rely on mining. A network of trusted nodes agrees on transactions in seconds, with fees that are a fraction of a cent. This makes Stellar one of the most efficient networks for payments and remittances.
XLM (lumens) is the native asset of the Stellar network. It is used to pay transaction fees (minimal), act as a bridge asset in cross-currency trades, and prevent spam by requiring small account reserves. Stellar's supply is capped at 50 billion XLM, with the majority already in circulation. The network has been used by institutions and projects worldwide for cross-border payments, stablecoin issuance, and financial inclusion initiatives.
XLM vs Other Major Cryptocurrencies
Here's how Stellar compares to Bitcoin and XRP — another payments-focused asset:
Feature | Stellar (XLM) | Bitcoin (BTC) | XRP (XRP Ledger) |
|---|---|---|---|
Launch Year | 2014 | 2009 | 2012 |
Consensus | Stellar Consensus Protocol | Proof of Work | Federated Consensus |
Transaction Speed | 3–5 seconds | 10–60+ minutes | 3–5 seconds |
Transaction Fees | Fractions of a cent | Variable (can be high) | Fractions of a cent |
Supply | 50B cap | 21M hard cap | 100B fixed |
Primary Use Case | Payments, remittances, asset issuance | Store of value | Cross-border payments |
Stellar's focus on fast, cheap payments and its built-in decentralized exchange (DEX) for asset trading make it a natural fit for anyone moving value across borders or holding stablecoins and other assets on the network.
The Stellar Ecosystem
Stellar has become a backbone for payments and asset issuance around the world:
Cross-Border Payments — Companies and institutions use Stellar to settle cross-border transfers in seconds at a fraction of the cost of traditional rails. Stellar's network can connect to existing payment systems and anchor institutions that hold fiat and issue Stellar-based tokens.
Stablecoins and Assets — Many stablecoins and other assets are issued on Stellar, including USDC. The built-in DEX allows users to swap between XLM and any issued asset without a centralized exchange.
Remittances and Financial Inclusion — Stellar has been adopted by remittance providers and projects focused on financial inclusion, enabling low-cost transfers for people who lack access to traditional banking.
Anchors and Compliance — The Stellar ecosystem includes "anchors" — regulated entities that issue and redeem tokenized assets (e.g. fiat-backed tokens). This model supports compliance while keeping settlement on a public ledger.
Why Buy Stellar with Metal Pay?
Buying Stellar is simple with Metal Pay. Whether you're new to crypto or using XLM for payments and transfers, Metal Pay makes it easy to purchase Stellar quickly using your debit or credit card.
Metal Pay is available to users in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand — making it one of the easiest ways to buy XLM in these markets. Whether you're buying XLM in the USA, purchasing Stellar in Australia, or getting started in New Zealand, Metal Pay provides a fast and regulated onramp.
With Metal Pay, you can buy Stellar instantly and send it to any Stellar wallet. Once purchased, you can hold XLM, use it for low-cost transfers, or trade and hold other assets on the Stellar network.
Metal Pay is built by Metallicus, the team behind WebAuth Wallet, Metal X, and the XPR Network — a group that understands payments and blockchain infrastructure from the ground up.
Why Buy XLM?
Stellar has proven itself as a practical network for real-world payments and asset issuance. Here's what makes XLM compelling:
Fast, cheap transactions — Settlements in 3–5 seconds with fees that are a fraction of a cent. Stellar is built for high-volume, low-value transfers that would be uneconomical on many other chains.
No mining, low energy — Stellar's consensus does not require mining, making it one of the most energy-efficient networks. That aligns with growing demand for sustainable blockchain infrastructure.
Built-in DEX — The Stellar network includes a native decentralized exchange. You can swap XLM for USDC and other issued assets directly on-chain without a third-party exchange.
Institutional adoption — Stellar is used by payment companies, banks, and projects globally. USDC and other major assets are issued on Stellar, providing liquidity and real-world use cases.
How to Buy Stellar with Metal Pay
Getting started takes just a few steps:
Create your account — Sign up and verify your identity in minutes.
Add a payment method — Connect your debit or credit card.
Buy XLM instantly — Search for Stellar, enter an amount, and confirm your purchase. You can also buy Stellar directly from your browser.
Metal Pay supports users across the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. Once purchased, your XLM can be held in the app or sent to any Stellar wallet address worldwide.
Start Buying Stellar Today
Metal Pay makes it easy to buy Stellar instantly and access one of the most trusted networks for fast, low-cost payments and asset transfers. Download Metal Pay on iOS or Android and start buying XLM in minutes.
