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How to buy, sell or trade Stellar Lumens (XLM)
See how the Stellar network works and how you can use Lumens.
Thinking about adding Stellar Lumens to your portfolio? These days, you can buy and sell Stellar Lumens (XLM) on quite a few exchanges, so keep reading for step-by-step instructions on how to start trading this popular cryptocurrency.
Disclaimer: This information should not be interpreted as an endorsement of cryptocurrency or any specific
provider, service or offering. It is not a recommendation to trade.
Quick guide: How to buy Stellar Lumens (XLM)
If you live in the US, you won’t find a cryptocurrency exchange offering Stellar Lumens for direct purchase.- Register for an account with an exchange like Coinbase. Skip to Step 5 if you’re looking to exchange existing cryptocurrency for XLM.
- Enable two-factor authentication on your Coinbase account and verify your account.
- Add a payment method and buy either bitcoin or Ether on Coinbase.
- Register for an account with an exchange.
- Enable two-factor authentication on your account.
- Copy the address of the wallet containing the coin you’re looking to exchange for XLM.
- On Coinbase, withdraw from your account the coin you’ve just purchased and send it to your wallet address.
- Exchange your coin for Stellar Lumens.
This is a quick guide to just one way to buy XLM. Compare some other options in the table below.
Exchanges where you can buy, sell or trade Stellar
Exchanges where you can buy or sell crypto with USD
A step-by-step guide to buying XLM
In the US, you can’t purchase XLM with US dollars or another fiat currency. Instead, you have to buy it with another cryptocurrency like bitcoin (BTC) or Ethereum (ETH).
Buying XLM with cryptocurrency
If you want to buy XML with US dollars, here’s one example of how you can do it:
Tutorial: Buying XLM with Coinbase
How to sell XLM
To sell your XLM holdings:
- Log in to your chosen exchange.
- Click through to the trading page, and search for the pair you want to trade.
- Enter the details of your transaction in the Sell tab.
- Review the transaction specifics.
- Click Sell XLM.
Wallets that support Lumens
Some people opt to keep the XLM they buy in their crypto exchange account. While it’s a convenient way to makes sure you have fast access to your crypto for future trades, it’s a risky move. With crypto exchanges a popular target for hackers, it’s widely recommended that you move your XLM into a secure wallet that lets you control your private key. Wallets you may want to consider include the Ledger Nano S hardware wallet, the Stellar Desktop Client and the Lobstr mobile wallet. For tips on what to look for in an XLM wallet, read our guide to five of the best Stellar wallets.
- Ledger Nano S
- Stellar Desktop Client
- Stargazer
- Stellar Portal
- Stronghold
- Blackwallet
- SAZA
- Papaya
- StellarTerm
- Lobstr
How Stellar works
Launched in 2014, Stellar aims to offer fast and affordable cross-border transactions. Its distributed payments network ensures that transactions are processed within two to five seconds for a tiny fee of approximately a single 600,000th of a cent per transaction.
To send funds on the Stellar network, create an account and then upload the currency you want to transfer to an “anchor,” such as a bank or remittance company. That anchor issues virtual credit to your Stellar account, allowing you to send near-instant transfers around the world. According to Stellar, Lumens play two main roles in the network:
- Preventing spam. To prevent denial-of-service attacks, each transaction on Stellar attracts a fee of 0.00001 XLM. All accounts on the Stellar network must hold a minimum balance of 0.5 Lumens, a measure designed to declutter the ledger.
- Facilitating multicurrency transactions. Lumens facilitate trades between fiat currencies, acting as a bridge between currencies that don’t have a large direct market.
The project is backed by the Stellar Development Foundation, whose mission is to promote global financial access, literacy and inclusion.
Keep reading about how Stellar works.
Why buy XLM?
Lumens is the network token, which you can use to:
- Charge a minor operation fee. A fee of 0.00001 XLM is charged to senders for each operation in a transaction. The fee is purely intended to discourage DDoS attacks, which occur when people flood the network with meaningless transactions.
- Act as an “entry pass.” You need to hold at least 20 XLM to use the Stellar network.
- Exchange currencies. If necessary, XLM can act as a universal unit of exchange for transferring currencies.
What to consider before you buy XLM
Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile and complicated assets, so there’s significant risk involved in any crypto purchase. With this in mind, carefully assess the factors that could potentially affect the price of a currency before you buy. If you’re thinking of buying any XLM, remember to consider:
- Supply. According to CoinMarketCap, in August 2018, the circulating supply of Lumens was 18,771,744,750 XLM out of a total supply of 104,204,519,656 XLM.
- Inflation. The initial supply of Lumens was 100 billion, but the currency is designed to be inflationary. A fixed inflation rate of 1% per year applies, and all transaction fees paid on the network are recycled.
- Distribution. Stellar.org plans to distribute the initial supply of 100 billion XLM as follows:
- 50% given away to individuals who sign up to the network using an invitation link.
- 25% given away to businesses, governments, institutions or nonprofits that contribute to the growth and adoption of the Stellar network.
- 20% given away to bitcoin and XRP holders during a giveaway completed in 2016 and 2017.
- 5% reserved for Stellar.org operational expenses.
- ICOs. The Stellar network can also be used by new crypto projects looking to launch ICOs. Mobius Network and SureRemit are just a couple of the projects to have launched via Stellar.
- Competition. Ripple is generally considered to be Stellar’s biggest blockchain-based competitor, so check out our Ripple vs. Stellar comparison to find out how these two projects stack against each other.
- Partnerships. Stellar’s most notable partnership has seen it join forces with tech giant IBM, but you can find more information about other partners on its site.
The main challenge for Stellar in the months and years ahead will be whether it can achieve widespread adoption. Thoroughly research the ins and outs of the Stellar network, its technology and its purpose so that you can make an informed decision about whether you should buy any XLM.
Find the cheapest way to buy Stellar
Based on your answers, we recommend:
Coinbase and Binance.
The final amount you’ll have varies depending on the price of the coin and any network transaction fees you incur.
Although this purchase method is recommended, you can click the button below to view other available exchanges.View exchanges
Frequently asked questions
Disclaimer: Cryptocurrencies are speculative, complex and involve significant risks – they are highly
volatile and sensitive to secondary activity. Performance is unpredictable and past performance is no guarantee of
future performance. Consider your own circumstances, and obtain your own advice, before relying on this information.
You should also verify the nature of any product or service (including its legal status and relevant regulatory
requirements) and consult the relevant Regulators' websites before making any decision. Finder, or the author, may
have holdings in the cryptocurrencies discussed.
Ask an Expert
I have traded US $ for Bitcoin on Coinbase.
I have established an account with Binance
How do I transfer Bitcoin to Binance to buy XLM?
Hi Lloyd,
Thanks for getting in touch with finder.
You got an interesting question there, Lloyd.
If you wish to transfer your Bitcoin to Binance, you need the go to Coinbase and select accounts. Next, choose the cryptocurrency that you want to send from your wallets. Enter your Binance address and send your Bitcoin.
Once you have your Bitcoin on your Binance, you can now use it to buy XLM. Using Binance is pretty straightforward. So, I would say you won’t have any trouble buying XLM with your Bitcoin.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua
Hi. I Have some unwanted Bitcoin cash. How can I buy lumens with it?
Where would I store the Lumens?
Hi Ray,
Thanks for getting in touch with finder.
There are different ways you can buy lumens with your Bitcoin Cash.
First, you can sell your Bitcoin Cash and turn them into fiat money. From there, you can use your fiat money to buy lumens.
Second, you can find an exchange that allows you to buy lumen with Bitcoin Cash. On this page, you will find exchanges that handle Bitcoin Cash.
Third, buy products with your Bitcoin Cash and then sell your purchased product for fiat money. From there, you can again use your fiat money to buy lumens.
Please go to this page to learn more about Bitcoin cash.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua
By digital wallet, can I use my laptop or do I have to use my cell phone?
Hi Rick,
Thank you for your comment.
With digital wallets, you can actually use both a computer (laptop/desktop) and a cellphone (smartphone). Either way, you have to make sure to follow the standard security best practices when using these devices. I would encourage you to check this page to learn more about cryptocurrency wallets including, its types, how it works and even comparative wallets available in the network.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Jhezelyn
How do I transfer XLM lumens from Binance to one of your wallets?
Hi Jeff,
Please note that we are not the developers of the wallets we feature on our site.
To transfer XLM lumens from Binance to a wallet, you need to have your wallet’s address, copy that, and paste it on Binance. The entire process can vary from one wallet to another.
It would also be helpful if you read our guide on Binance here.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua
In Binance it doesn’t give you the option to setup your bank account. If I ever decide to sell stellar how do I get the funds? I don’t want to exchange it back to bitcoin because I will loose money.
Hi James,
To sell Stellar, you can find someone who wants to pay you with fiat money. You can just send your bank account details for that person to pay them and simply transfer your Stellar via Binance.
Another way for you to sell Stellar is to find an exchange that supports the coin that you have. You must also see to it that the exchange allows you to sell bitcoins. Generally, if the exchange allows you to sell, they would ask for your bank account info so the exchange can forward your money to your bank.
Alternatively, you can use other wallets or exchanges that allow you to set up your bank account. You will find out more about that by reviewing our table found under the subheading, “Exchanges where you can buy or sell crypto with USD.”
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua Infantado
I am new to crypto. How do I purchase Stellar (XLM)?
thank you
Hi Rainman,
Thank you for your comment.
There is no cryptocurrency exchange offering XLM for direct purchase yet. To buy this, you check our guide here on how to buy XLM.
Before you start trading, you should know first the ins and outs of cryptocurrency. You can check out our page here to check how this works.
Regards,
Jhezelyn
I would like to invest $500 U S in Stellar for future growth. Is this to small an amount? The Exchanges listed say payment by cryptocurrency which I don’t have. So how can I proceed?
Hi Larry,
Thanks for reaching out.
In the US there isn’t a cryptocurrency exchange offering Stellar Lumens for direct purchase.
You can buy Bitcoin or Ether through a cryptocurrency exchange, after your bitcoin or Ether hits your digital wallet, you can transfer them to an exchange offering stellar.
The page above has the list of exchanges where you can buy bitcoin or Ether and the list of exchanges that supports XLM.
Cheers,
Joanne
I want to add 1000 to invest in Steller, how do I do this?
Hi Mike,
Thank you for your inquiry.
If you are looking at investing, you can start purchasing Stellar Lumens (XLM) via the exchanges (listed in the table above). You would also need to sign up for a Stellar Wallet (Stellar supported wallets are also listed above) as well to store your token.
Please also note of the possible risk associated with all digital currencies, including complete loss of value. Moreover, before purchasing Lumens, it’s is encouraged that you consult the Consumer Advisory brief by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on the potential risks associated with digital currencies.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
May