Comprehensive guide to trustlines on Stellar, the explicit permission system that lets accounts receive assets beyond XLM. Walks through why they exist (spam prevention), how to open one (and what it costs), real-world example with LOBSTR and USDC, and critical safety practices.
On Stellar, accounts can only hold XLM by default. Every other asset requires a trustline: an explicit agreement between your account and an issuer, allowing you to receive and hold that asset up to a limit you set. This design prevents spam and account bloat. The article breaks down why trustlines exist, uses LOBSTR and WalletConnect Pay as real-world examples of where trustlines matter (you can't use USDC without one), explains the mechanics (issuer, asset code, limit, XLM reserve), and emphasizes critical safety: only trust known issuers, don't sign trustlines blindly, verify the official Circle issuer for USDC. Understanding trustlines is foundational for anyone receiving payments or using dApps on Stellar.
