The XRP Ledger (XRPL) is a public, peer-to-peer blockchain that records XRP, other supported assets, and transactions. XRP is the ledger’s native digital asset—not another name for the network. Users sign transactions to authorize changes, validators agree on which transactions to process, and servers apply those transactions to create a new validated ledger.
What is the difference between XRP and the XRP Ledger?
The XRP Ledger is the network and its shared record of state. XRP is the native digital asset recorded on that ledger. The network also supports other asset types, including issued tokens, so “XRP” and “XRP Ledger” are related but not interchangeable terms.
XRPL records more than payments. Its state includes accounts, balances, settings, offers, and other ledger objects. Transactions change that state, and successive ledger versions preserve the resulting history.
How does the XRP Ledger process a transaction?
1. An account signs an instruction
An account owner authorizes a ledger change by cryptographically signing a transaction. Depending on its type, a transaction can make a payment, create an account, change settings, or trade assets. A client sends the signed transaction to an XRPL server, which can relay it to peers.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →#1 Best Overall
2. Servers consider candidate transactions
A submitted transaction is initially a candidate, not a final ledger result. Different servers may receive transactions at different times or in different orders. Each server evaluates proposals from validators it trusts. That server-specific trusted set is called its Unique Node List (UNL).
Through iterative consensus, validators exchange and revise proposals until a supermajority of each server’s trusted validators agrees on a transaction set to process. This is not proof of work or proof of stake, nor does it mean that every validator votes on every transaction. The model depends on configured trusted-validator sets and agreement among them.
3. Servers apply the agreed set and validate the result
Servers start from the previous validated ledger, apply the agreed transactions in a canonical order, and calculate the resulting state. Validators then publish signed validations containing the hash of their result. A ledger is validated when a supermajority of the chosen validators agrees on the same validation hash.
A validated ledger is immutable: later transactions create new ledger versions rather than rewriting it. A server’s provisional API response is not, by itself, proof that a transaction succeeded. To confirm the outcome, check whether the transaction appears in a validated ledger and review its result code. An XRPL documentation page describes near-real-time settlement as three to six seconds, but that is not a guaranteed completion time for every transaction.
Rank #3
What does a ledger version contain?
Each ledger version has three main parts:
- State data: a snapshot of accounts, balances, settings, and other ledger objects at that point.
- Transactions: the set of transactions applied to the preceding ledger to produce the new state.
- Header: identifying information and metadata, including the ledger index, hashes, parent ledger hash, and close time.
The state shows what the ledger contains now; the transaction set records how it changed. Together, successive versions provide a shared record of updates.
What are XRP, transaction fees, and other tokens used for?
XRP and transaction costs
XRP is the XRPL’s native asset, and transaction fees are specified in XRP. One XRP equals one million drops. A transaction’s Fee field specifies XRP that is destroyed as the transaction cost. Requirements can vary with transaction type and live network conditions, so there is no single fee figure that applies to every transaction.
Issued tokens and MPTs
The ledger also supports trust-line tokens and Multi-Purpose Tokens (MPTs). A token’s presence on the ledger does not automatically mean it represents an off-ledger asset or that it can be redeemed for one. Its properties depend on its format, the ledger features involved, and, where applicable, the issuer’s terms and settings. Trust-line token settings can include transfer fees and freeze controls, and ledger objects can affect reserve requirements.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What do you need to make a payment on XRPL?
To make a peer-to-peer XRP payment, a user needs a wallet and an account funded to meet the current minimum reserve requirement. The reserve and transaction-cost requirements can change, so check current XRPL information rather than relying on an old quoted amount. A direct XRP payment and a cross-currency payment are distinct options; the appropriate transaction depends on what is being sent and received. This describes how the system is used, not a recommendation to buy XRP or use a particular wallet.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsQuick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
