# Stellar Network Overview: XLM, Soroban, and Payments

**Published:** 2026-06-12T12:12:15.453Z  
**Topic:** Stellar Xlm  
**Sentiment:** neutral  
**Publisher:** TrendWatcher — https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/08c1f2ba-0452-42aa-a52e-c1406e114ebb

An overview of the Stellar network, its XLM token, Soroban smart contracts, and its role in cross-border payments and real-world asset tokenization.

Launched in 2014, the Stellar network functions as a decentralized blockchain built to facilitate near-instant global payments and connect financial systems [1]. The platform aims to transform international remittances and currency exchanges by offering safer, faster, and more affordable solutions [1]. In 2024, the network released Protocol 20, enabling full-featured smart contracts through its Soroban platform [1].

**Key takeaways**
*   Stellar launched in 2014 to connect financial systems and enable near-instant global payments [1].
*   The network’s native token, XLM, pays transaction fees and acts as an intermediate currency for exchanges [1].
*   Protocol 20 launched in 2024, introducing Soroban, a smart contract platform built with Rust and WebAssembly [1].
*   Stellar uses a Proof-of-Agre

## Sources
1. CoinMarketCap — [Stellar price today, XLM to USD live price, marketcap and chart | CoinMarketCap](https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/stellar/)
2. CoinJournal — [Stellar faces renewed selling pressure amid bearish derivatives data](https://coinjournal.net/news/stellar-faces-renewed-selling-pressure-amid-bearish-derivatives-data/)

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Cite as: TrendWatcher, "Stellar Network Overview: XLM, Soroban, and Payments", https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/08c1f2ba-0452-42aa-a52e-c1406e114ebb