Invest In Stellar – How To Invest In Stellar For Beginners
Please note that we are not authorised to provide any investment advice. The content on this page is for information purposes only.
Stellar (XLM) is a popular cryptocurrency and blockchain project that allows users to send and receive funds in a low-cost and lightning-fast manner. The digital currency – also referred to as Stellar Lumens, has positioned itself as a multi-billion dollar asset since its inception in 2014.
In this guide, we run you through the nuts and bolts of how to invest in Stellar online with a regulated and user-friendly broker that supports instant deposits.
Table of Contents
#1 Broker to Invest in Stellar – eToro
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How To Invest in Stellar – Choose a Broker
If you’re looking to invest in Stellar in the US right now – consider the following brokers.
- eToro – Overall Best Place to Invest in Stellar in the US
- Coinbase – Great Way to Invest in Stellar for Beginners
- Binance – Best Place to Invest in Stellar for Asset Diversity
- Webull – Invest in Stellar From Just $1
- Kraken – Reputable Exchange for Investing in Stellar
All of the above Stellar brokers have been pre-vetted – albeit, you will find full reviews of each provider by scrolling down.
How to Invest in Stellar –A Quick Guide For 2021
Further down in this guide we run you through a full step-by-step breakdown of how to invest in Stellar in the US. However, if you’re looking for a quickfire guide to getting started right now – follow the mini-tutorial below to invest in Stellar in under five minutes!
- Step 1: Open an Account with eToro – We would suggest considering eToro when investing in Stellar – as the platform is regulated, offers low fees, and requires a minimum purchase of just $25. You can open an account with eToro by clicking on the ‘Join Now’ button and entering some basic personal information.
- Step 2: Upload Your ID – You will need to provide eToro with a copy of your government-issued ID before you can invest in Stellar. This is because the brokerage site is regulated by the SEC, FCA, ASIC, and CySEC – meaning it must comply with KYC laws.
- Step 3: Deposit Funds – The minimum Stellar investment at eToro is just $25. But, as a first-time customer from the US – you will need to make a minimum deposit of $50 to get started. You can do this instantly with a debit/credit card or via online banking.
- Step 4: Invest in Stellar – All that is left for you to do now is invest in Stellar! You can do this by searching for ‘Stellar’, hitting the ‘Trade’ button, and then entering your investment stake into the ‘Amount’ box.
To complete your low-cost Stellar investment at eToro – click on the ‘Open Trade’ button to confirm the order. In just a few seconds, eToro will execute your order and you will find your newly purchased XLM tokens in your portfolio!
Cryptoassets are highly volatile unregulated investment products. Proceed at your own risk.
Where to Buy Stellar – Full Broker Reviews
In this section of our guide on how to invest in Stellar, we are going to review the very best brokers that are currently listing XLM tokens. When researching the best platforms for the job – we look at a wide range of important factors. This includes fees and commissions, supported deposit methods, withdrawal times, security, user-friendliness, markets, and of course – regulation.
With this in mind, the best brokers allowing you to invest in Stellar in the US can be found below.
1. eToro – Overall Best Place to Invest in Stellar
We would argue that eToro is the very best online broker in the cryptocurrency arena for many reasons. Starting with safety and security, eToro is regulated in multiple jurisdictions. For US clients, this includes regulation with the SEC and registration with FINRA. Outside of the US, the broker is also regulated by the FCA (UK),. ASIC (Australia), and CySEC (Cyprus). This means that you will be able to invest in Stellar in a super-safe environment – as you have regulatory protection on multiple fronts.
A core benefit of using a regulated broker like eToro is that you can easily invest in Stellar with US dollars. In fact, eToro supports instant deposits via debit/credit cards, online banking, and ACH. The minimum deposit for US clients to get started with an eToro account is just $50. In even better news, eToro does not charge US clients any deposit fees – even when using a debit or credit card. This is unheard of in the cryptocurrency scene, as popular brokers like Coinbase charge almost 4% when using Visa or MasterCard.
Once you have opened an account and made a deposit – which should not take you more than a couple of minutes, you can then proceed to invest in Stellar. If you’re on a budget and simply looking to invest small amounts – you will be pleased to learn that eToro accepts Stellar purchases from just $25 per trade. This is also the case with the 30+ other digital tokens supported by the eToro platform. Here, you will find the likes of Bitcoin, XRP, Ethereum, EOS, Cardano, and Litecoin. You will also find a number of Defi tokens – such as Spark and Decentraland.
In terms of trading fees – this is where eToro really shines. This is because instead of charging variable commissions like Coinbase – eToro operates on a ‘spread-only’ basis. In a nutshell, this means that your only trading fee is that of the gap between the buy and sell price. In the cryptocurrency department, this starts at just 0.75% at eToro. In addition to low fees and a strong regulatory standing, the eToro platform is ideal for newbies and experienced pros alike. Crucially, the entire eToro website is very user-friendly and completely free of jargon.
eToro is also a great option for those of you that have an interest in passive investments. For example, the CryptoPortfolio offered by eToro allows you to invest in lots of different crypto assets at various weights – all through a single trade. This is managed by the eToro team – meaning the CryptoPortfolio is regularly rebalanced. What you can also do at eToro is ‘copy’ other investors that use the platform to trade. Once you have selected an investor you like – the Copy Trading tool will automatically mirror all future positions in your own eToro portfolio.
Pros
- Invest in cryptocurrencies on a spread-only basis
- Minimum investment per trade from just $25
- Supports debit/credit cards, online banking, and local bank transfers
- Regulated by the SEC, FCA, CySEC, and ASIC
- Minimum deposit of $50 and no transaction fees for US citizens
- Used by over 20 million people
- Perfect for beginners
- Social and copy trading tools
Cons
- Perhaps too basic for technical traders
- No support for MT4 or MT5
Cryptoassets are highly volatile unregulated investment products. Proceed at your own risk.
2. Coinbase – Best Way to Invest in Stellar for Beginners
If you are a complete beginner that wishes to invest in Stellar in a simple and burden-free manner – Coinbase is potentially worth exploring. Although the platform is expensive when it comes to commissions – Coinbase does allow you to purchase XLM tokens without needing to have any prior knowledge of trading cryptocurrencies. In fact, the process simply involves registering an account by providing some personal information and uploading a copy of your ID.
Then, you can proceed to invest in Stellar with your debit or credit card. This will allow you to purchase XLM tokens instantly – as the digital asset will be added to your portfolio as soon as you confirm the transaction. Perhaps the main drawback with the Instant Buy feature is that Coinbase charges 3.99% of the purchase amount. So, if you were to invest $1,000 into Stellar with your debit/credit card – you would only receive the equivalent of $960.10 worth of XLM.
The only way to reduce your trading fees is to deposit funds via a domestic bank transfer. There are no deposit fees for this payment method – but you will be charged a commission of 1.49%. Nevertheless, if you are not too concerned with fees and commissions, Coinbase does offer a solid platform that benefits from multiple security protocols. This includes keeping 98% of client digital funds in cold storage – meaning the tokens remain offline. Coinbase also requires all account holders to log in via two-factor authentication.
Pros
- One of the most popular cryptocurrency exchanges
- More than 68 million users
- Supports instant debit card purchases
- Dozens of digital currencies to choose from
- Institutional-grade security practices
Cons
- Debit card deposits are expensive at 3.99%
- You will pay a standard trading commission of 1.49%
at eToro, #1 Broker in the US
Cryptoassets are highly volatile unregulated investment products. Proceed at your own risk.
3. Binance – Best Place to Invest in Stellar for Asset Diversity
Binance is a global cryptocurrency exchange that dominates this sector in terms of trading volumes. In fact, the exchange has grown to exponential heights since it was launched in 2017 – with Binance now home to over 100 million users. The platform recently opened a US-specific exchange – which allows Americans to buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrencies in a safe and secure environment. In total, the platform allows you to directly invest in 50 digital assets – which includes Stellar.
The easiest way to complete your investment is to register an account, upload a copy of your ID – and then purchase XLM tokens with a debit/credit card. This will be executed instantly and you will be charged a competitive fee of 0.5%. This is also the case with other digital tokens supported by Binance – which includes the likes of Dogecoin, Cosmos, EOS, Bitcoin, Chainlink, BNB, and Tether. The main drawback with the Binance US platform is that it does support as many trading pairs as the global version of the exchange.
For instance, on the main Binance platform, non-US users have access to hundreds of pairs. Nevertheless, by trading digital currencies on the Binance US exchange – you will only pay a commission of 0.10% per slide. Binance US also offers ‘staking’ – which allows you to earn interest on your crypto assets by locking them up for a certain period of time. The best-paying tokens in this respect are ALGO and ATOM – which yield up to 10% and 9% respectively.
Pros
- Facilitates billions of dollars in daily trading volume
- Supports hundreds of digital asset pairs
- Near-instant deposits via debit/credit card
- Trading commission starts at just 0.1% per slide
- Offers crypto savings accounts
- Ideal for both beginners and experienced traders alike
Cons
- Not all supported cryptocurrencies can be purchased with a debit/credit card
- No e-wallet deposits or withdrawals
at eToro, #1 Broker in the US
Cryptoassets are highly volatile unregulated investment products. Proceed at your own risk.
4. Webull – Invest in Stellar From Just $1
Webull is a super popular US-based investment platform and mobile app that offers low fees and small minimums. Although Webull is better known for its stocks, ETFs, and options trading facilities – the brokerage firm is also home to a selection of cryptocurrencies. In addition to Stellar, this also covers Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, Ethereum, Dash, Bitcoin, and more. One of the main attractions of investing in Stellar via Webull is that you only need to meet a $1 minimum.
This means that you can invest in the project without needing to risk large amounts of capital. When it comes to fees, it is notable that Webull allows you to purchase XLM tokens on a 0% commission basis. However, the spread on digital currencies at Webull starts at 1%. As such, this is how Webull makes money from its cryptocurrency investment services. Nevertheless, there is no minimum deposit to get started at Webull and you can deposit funds for free via ACH.
If you prefer to transfer funds via a US bank wire – Webull will charge you a fee of $8. Withdrawals via bank wire will cost you $25 per transaction – which is expensive. Webull is also a good option if you like to invest on the move. This is because it offers a highly-rated mobile app that is compatible with both iOS and Android devices. The Webull app gives you unfettered access to your investment account – meaning that you can buy, sell, and trade assets at the click of a button.
Pros
- User-friendly trading app for both iOS and Android devices
- 0% commission policy across all assets
- No minimum deposit
- ACH deposits and withdrawals are fee-free
- Regulated in the US
- Invest from just $1
Cons
- Crypto spreads start at 1%
- Too basic for experienced traders
- No support for e-wallets or debit/credit cards
at eToro, #1 Broker in the US
Cryptoassets are highly volatile unregulated investment products. Proceed at your own risk.
5. Kraken – Reputable Exchange for Investing in Stellar
Kraken is a trusted cryptocurrency exchange with a great reputation across the US and Europe. The platform supports a wide range of crypto assets – including Stellar. The easiest way to get started at Kraken is to open an account, upload some ID, and make a fund transfer via ACH. Kraken notes that first-time deposits will result in a withdrawal hold of 72-hours. The fees to deposit funds via ACH at Kraken amount to 0.5% and the minimum requirement is $10 per transaction.
Once your account is set up and your deposit has arrived – you can then proceed to invest in Stellar. When it comes to commissions, Kraken operates a market ‘taker’ and ‘maker’ pricing structure. Unless you are a large-scale investor providing liquidity to the exchange, you will be classed as a market taker. As such, for 30-day trading volumes of under $50,000 – your commission will amount to 0.26%n per slide. The lowest commission available is 0.10% – but this requires a minimum 30-day trading volume of $10 million.
It is important to note that once you have invested in Kraken, you are advised to withdraw your tokens to a private wallet. As noted by Kraken itself, the platform is an exchange and does offer personal wallet services – so do bear this in mind. Nevertheless, if you are interested in trading other cryptocurrencies, the Kraken Pro is home to dozens of pairs. This includes both fiat-to-crypto pairs and crypto-crosses. Finally, Kraken also offers an official mobile app that is available on the Google Play and App Store.
Pros
- Popular cryptocurrency exchange and broker
- Great selection of cryptocurrencies
- Supports both crypto-cross and fiat-to-crypto pairs
- Accepts debit/credit cards and bank transfers
- Offers complex crypto instruments for experienced traders
Cons
- Not all US states are supported
- Fees are somewhat pricey
at eToro, #1 Broker in the US
Cryptoassets are highly volatile unregulated investment products. Proceed at your own risk.
How to Invest in Stellar – Detailed & Explained in Full
We are now going to walk you through the process of how to invest in Stellar in the US with eToro – a low-cost crypto broker that is regulated by the SEC. In following the simple tutorial below, you will be able to buy XLM tokens from just $25 – with the process taking less than five minutes from start to finish.
Step 1: Open an Account to Invest in Stellar
is to open an account with eToro – which you can do by visiting the broker’s homepage and clicking on the ‘Join Now’ button. Next, follow the on-screen instructions by entering your personal information – which includes your name, nationality, home address, date of birth, and social security number.
eToro will also ask you a few basic questions about your prior investment experience to ensure it offers you the right trading services for your skillset. Finally, confirm your cell phone number by entering the PIN that eToro sends to you via SMS.
Cryptoassets are highly volatile unregulated investment products. Proceed at your own risk.
Step 2: Upload ID
To ensure that deposit and withdrawal restrictions are removed from your account – simply upload a copy of your government-issued ID. You find that within 1-2 minutes – eToro will have verified your document and thus – you are good to invest in Stellar with US dollars.
Step 3: Add Funds to Your Account
Before you can invest in Stellar on the eToro website, you will need to add some funds to your account. US clients can deposit funds from just $50 – and the fastest way to do this is via a debit or credit card. Other supported methods include online banking and ACH.
Regardless of your chosen payment method – US clients do not pay any deposit fees at eToro – which is a major benefit. After all, the likes of Coinbase will charge you 3.99% on debit/credit card purchases – which is huge.
Step 4: Search for XLM
Now that you have a funded brokerage account at eToro, you can complete the investment process. The easiest way to do this is to enter ‘XLM’ into the search box – which is the ticker code for Stellar Lumens.
Once the correct result shows from the search box, click on the ‘Trade’ button.
Step 5: Invest in Stellar
You should now see an order box like in the image below. Don’t worry if this is your first time placing an order with a cryptocurrency broker – as eToro has streamlined the process for beginners.
The only thing you need to do is let eToro know how much money you wish to invest in Stellar. This doesn’t need to be stated in terms of the number of XLM tokens. On the contrary, you simply need to enter your stake in US dollars.
For instance, in our example above, we are looking to invest $100 into Stellar. The minimum, however, is just $25 – so you should only invest in an amount that you are comfortable with. Finally, once you click on the ‘Open Trade’ button – eToro will execute your Stellar Lumens investment instantly.
How to Sell Stellar
By investing in Stellar, you will make a profit if the value of XLM tokens increases in the open marketplace. For example, if you pay $0.33 per token and the time of the investment and cash out at a price of $0.66 – that’s a 100% profit. However, the only way to realize your gains is to sell Stellar back to US dollars. Fortunately, the process takes just seconds when you use eToro for this purpose.
- When you are ready to sell Stellar, head over to your eToro account and click on the ‘Portfolio’ button.
- You should see a ‘Sell’ button located next to Stellar – which you will need to click.
- Once you confirm the sale, eToro will sell your XLM tokens at the next best available price.
- Then, you will see that your cash balance has been updated.
You can then use the funds to invest in other cryptocurrencies or simply request a withdrawal back to your bank account.
Ways to Invest in Stellar
Now that you know how to purchase XLM tokens, the next thing to think about is the many ways in which you can invest in Stellar. For example, while some investors like to use cryptocurrency exchanges so that they can transact directly with other market participants, others prefer to use a traditional online broker.
To ensure you select the right option for you – below we discuss the best ways to invest in Stellar from the comfort of your home.
Invest in Stellar via an Online Broker
An example of an online broker that allows you to invest in Stellar is eToro. The broker is heavily regulated – which includes approval from both the SEC and FINRA.
- This means that by using a broker like eToro you will be able to purchase XLM tokens in a safe manner.
- Furthermore, and perhaps most importantly, online brokers that are regulated by US authorities allow you to invest in Stellar with USD.
- This means that you can easily deposit funds with a debit/credit card or ACH.
In terms of the specifics, when you invest in Stellar through a regulated online broker, you are buying the tokens directly from the provider. This is great for beginners, as it means that you do not need to participate with other market traders.
Invest in Stellar via Cryptocurrency Exchange
The other option is to deposit funds with a cryptocurrency exchange and then proceed to invest in Stellar. This option will see you hit the live cryptocurrency markets by buying and selling XLM tokens with other traders. Depending on your chosen exchange, you might have access to extremely low commissions and huge levels of liquidity.
On the other hand, it is important to note that even some of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in this industry operate offshore without a regulatory license. What this means for the safety of your investment is that you can never be sure if you are using a legitimate provider.
This also means that technically – the exchange won’t be able to facilitate USD deposits and withdrawals – should it not have approval from the relevant authorities. Ultimately, this is why it is safer and more convenient to invest in Stellar with a regulated broker that has the legal remit to accept US clients.
Should I Invest in Stellar?
If you’re looking to invest in Stellar – you should know that the process is far from risk-free. On the contrary, digital currencies like Stellar are prone to huge volatility swings. Furthermore, this marketplace is extremely speculative – so negative pricing trends are often dictated by FOMO (Fear of Missing Out).
With this in mind, we would suggest performing plenty of independent research before you proceed to invest in Stellar. To help clear the mist, below we discuss some of the main considerations that we think you should make.
Established Cryptocurrency
The first thing to look at when considering a cryptocurrency investment is the underlying track record of the project. For example, the majority of the 11,000+ digital tokens listed on CoinMarketCap were launched within the prior 1-2 years. This means that the risks are much higher – as we have very little data to go from.
On the other hand, you have projects like Stellar – which have been in this industry for a long time – at least in cryptocurrency terms. After all, Stellar was first launched back in 2014 – which makes it one of the most established projects in this space. During this time, XLM has positioned itself as a top-25 cryptocurrency with a multi-billion dollar market capitalization.
Superb Blockchain Leader
There are dozens of blockchain protocols in the cryptocurrency arena. While first-generation blockchains like Bitcoin and Ethereum have many issues when it comes to speed, fees, and scalability – these problems are nowhere to be found with the Stellar network. This is because Stellar can facilitate cross-border transactions that take just 1-2 seconds to process.
When it comes to fees, senders pay just a fraction of a cent – irrespective of where the receiver is based. Plus, Stellar can process approximately 1,000 transactions per second – compared to the 7 that Bitcoin is capable of handling.
Price Action
When Stellar Lumens was first launched in 2014, the digital currency was priced at around the $0.002 level. Earlier in 2021, XLM breached highs of $0.76 per token. This amounts to gains of over 37,000 percentage points since it was first launched – which is huge.
Low Barrier to Entry
When you invest in a leading cryptocurrency like Bitcoin – you will only be able to purchase a fraction of one token. Well, that is unless you are willing to invest tens of thousands of dollars.
But, in the case of Stellar, the digital token is still trading at well below the $1 mark. This means that by investing just a few hundred dollars, you can get yourself a huge number of tokens.
IBM
IBM is a major customer of the Stellar project, which adds significant weight to the legitimacy of the network. After all, IBM is a hallmark brand globally – so if the firm trusts Stellar to facilitate its cross-border transactions – this says a lot about the long-term potential of XLM.
What are the Risks of Investing in Stellar?
The above section discussed the benefits of investing in XLM tokens. However, risk-averse investors will always consider the potential drawbacks of an asset prior to taking the plunge.
As such, below we discuss some of the most pressing risks of investing in Stellar – which you should consider before proceeding with a purchase.
- Stellar Lumens is just one of over 11,000 cryptocurrencies. Although the underlying technology backing Stellar Lumens is fast, scalable, and super cost-effective, other blockchain projects offer similar, if not better results. As such, the fact that Stellar operates in such a satiated marketplace is a major risk to consider.
- You also need to remember that cryptocurrencies in general are speculative and volatile. This is even the case with multi-billion dollar projects like Stellar. By investing in XLM, you should be prepared for wild market swings on a regular basis.
- If you decide to invest in Stellar with an online exchange that isn’t regulated – you stand the risk of having your funds hacked. Furthermore, even if you withdraw your XLM tokens to a private wallet – remote attacks are still a possibility.
Although the risks of investing in Stellar discussed above should not be taken lightly, there are several strategies that you can incorporate to lower your exposure to loss.
- For example, to reduce the risk of entering an oversaturated market, you might consider investing in a wide range of cryptocurrencies to help diversify your portfolio.
- In terms of volatility risks, a common strategy here is to invest in small but regular amounts.
- This will see you place much less emphasis on shorter-term price swings – especially if you are looking to invest on a long-term basis.
In terms of the risks associated with exchanges and wallets – the most effective option here is to only invest in Stellar via a reputable broker that is regulated. eToro fits the bill here – as the broker is regulated by the SEC, FCA, ASIC, and CySEC.
How Much Does it Cost to Invest in Stellar Lumens?
When you invest in Stellar Lumens – the fees that you will be required to pay will be determined by your chosen broker or exchange.
- In many cases, you will be charged between 3-5% when using a debit or credit card to fund your crypto brokerage account.
- If this happens to be your preferred payment type to invest in Stellar, eToro will be the best option here.
- This is because eToro allows US clients to deposit funds fee-free – which is the case not only for debit/credit card transactions but online banking and ACH too.
You then need to assess what trading commissions you will need to pay at your chosen broker and how competitive the platform is in terms of spreads.
- To give you an idea of the disparity found in this industry, eToro doesn’t charge any commissions and it offers a minimum spread of just 0.75%.
- At the other end of the scale, you have brokers like Coinbase that charge a standard commission of 1.49% per slide – and spread that can exceed 2% depending on market conditions.
All in all, cryptocurrency broker fees can be complex to understanding – especially when the provider in question does not make this information readily accessible.
How to Invest in Stellar – Conclusion
This beginner’s guide has explained everything you need to know about investing in Stellar from the comfort of your home. In addition to full broker reviews and a comprehensive step-by-step walkthrough of how to complete your purchase – we have also discussed some of the core benefits and risks of investing in XLM.
If you have performed adequate research and feel ready to invest in Stellar – you can complete the process of SEC-regulated broker eToro. This popular platform allows US clients to deposit funds on a fee-free basis – which covers debit/credit card and banking options. You can then invest in Stellar instantly on a spread-only basis – which ultimately, makes eToro the safest and best-priced broker in the crypto marketplace.
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FAQs
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