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Coins field guide

XRP.

A digital asset for moving value.

XRP is the native asset of the XRP Ledger, a public ledger designed for fast settlement and issued assets.

What it isWhy it mattersWhat can go wrongWhat to do next
NetworkValidator consensus
Supply100 billion XRP created
Birthday / launchJune 2012 — XRP Ledger launched

Know the backstory

June 2012 — XRP Ledger launched

Built by: David Schwartz, Jed McCaleb, and Arthur Britto

The XRP Ledger was built in 2011–2012 by engineers who wanted a payment ledger without proof-of-work mining. Ripple is a company that has built products around XRPL, but XRP and the XRP Ledger are not the same thing as the company.

Why it stands apart

A digital asset for moving value.

XRPL does not use miners. Validators propose and agree on a ledger version; the network can finalize a new ledger in seconds.

Bottom line: XRP has its own design, trade-offs, and risks. Learn the network before you use the asset.

Follow the money

What happens after you hit send.

  1. A wallet signs and submits a transaction.
  2. Servers share candidate transactions and validators propose the next ledger state.
  3. Each server compares proposals from the validators it trusts.
  4. When sufficient agreement is reached, the ledger version is validated and becomes part of the immutable history.

Know the economics

Where new XRP comes from.

100 billion XRP was created at the ledger's inception. XRP is not mined; small amounts of XRP are destroyed as transaction costs to deter spam.

Protect the downside

The mistake you cannot undo.

Some XRPL destinations require a destination tag—missing it can complicate deposits. Verify the address and tag, and do not confuse a company announcement with a protocol guarantee.

Go beyond the summary

The subject in plain English.

The XRP Ledger is a payment-focused public network with fast ledger settlement, issued assets, and a built-in exchange. XRP is its native asset; Ripple is a company that uses and contributes to the ecosystem.

01

Consensus without mining

XRPL validators compare proposed transaction sets and converge on the next validated ledger. It does not use Bitcoin-style mining or proof-of-stake rewards.

02

Validated is the important result

A submitted transaction is not necessarily final. Wallets and exchanges should check that the transaction appears in a validated ledger with a successful result.

03

Fees are destroyed

XRPL charges a small transaction cost to deter spam. The fee is destroyed rather than paid to a miner, and it can rise when the network is under load.

04

Accounts and objects require reserves

An XRPL account must hold a base reserve, and ledger objects such as trust lines can require additional reserve. Those protocol amounts can change.

What people use it for

Where this matters.

  • Cross-border and domestic value transfer
  • Issued currencies and tokenized assets
  • Built-in decentralized exchange orders
  • Payment channels and application settlement

Before you act

Verify before you sign.

  1. Confirm the XRP Ledger network and destination address.
  2. Include the correct destination tag when a service requires one.
  3. Keep enough XRP for the account and object reserves you need.
  4. Verify the final validated result before treating a payment as complete.
  5. Do not share a recovery phrase, private key, or remote access with anyone.

Common questions

Clear answers before money moves.

Is XRP the same as Ripple? +

No. XRP is the ledger's native asset. Ripple is a company that builds products and participates in the broader ecosystem.

Is XRP mined? +

No. The full supply was created when the ledger began; validators do not receive newly mined XRP.

Why does an exchange ask for a destination tag? +

A shared exchange address may use the tag to identify which customer should receive the deposit.

Can XRPL hold assets besides XRP? +

Yes. Issuers can create assets, and the ledger includes trust lines and a decentralized exchange. Issued assets carry issuer and counterparty risk.

Primary sources

Verify the guide.

Details and threats change. Use the original documentation and public-interest sources to confirm current guidance before acting.

Primary or public-interest sourceXRPL consensus protocol ↗Primary or public-interest sourceXRPL transaction cost ↗Primary or public-interest sourceXRPL reserves ↗

Verify it yourself

Look at the chain.

A block explorer lets you inspect public transactions, blocks, addresses, and fees. Never paste a recovery phrase or private key into one.

Open XRPL Explorer ↗

People and projects behind it

For background only. We don't vouch for these people or sites.

Explore this sourceDavid Schwartz ↗Explore this sourceBrad Garlinghouse ↗Explore this sourceMonica Long ↗

Keep learning

Connect the dots.

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