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SEP-31

Crypto Protocol

SEP-31 is Stellar's cross-border payments API standard that defines how anchors send payments on behalf of customers using ISO 20022-compatible data structures.

SEP-31 (Stellar Ecosystem Proposal 31) is a protocol specification that defines the HTTP API a Stellar anchor must implement to receive cross-border payment instructions from a sending institution. An anchor is a regulated entity that bridges traditional fiat to the Stellar network.

The SEP-31 workflow: Sender institution queries the destination anchor's SEP-31 endpoint, receives required KYC fields and fee structure, submits an ISO-20022-aligned transaction record with full beneficiary information, and the anchor handles the last-mile fiat disbursement. The Stellar network settles the XLM/stablecoin leg in ~5 seconds.

MoneyGram, Flutterwave, and several African and Southeast Asian remittance providers have deployed SEP-31 corridors. The ISO 20022 data alignment means SEP-31 can serve as the settlement layer inside CBPR+-compatible payment flows, similar to how ODL works for XRP.

Crypto Relevance

SEP-31 is what gives XLM genuine ISO 20022 relevance — it's not just theoretical compatibility, it's a working API standard that financial institutions can implement to get Stellar settlement inside their existing compliance infrastructure.

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Last reviewed: 2026-05-17

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Not financial advice. Nothing on this site constitutes investment advice. Always do your own research (DYOR).