This document provides an introduction to Stellar, a decentralized network that connects the world's financial infrastructure. It explains what Stellar is, how it works using blockchain technology, and its key features like issuing and trading digital assets. Examples of projects built on Stellar like Uhuru Wallet and Leaf Global Fintech are also highlighted. The document encourages participants in Hack Africa to build projects on Stellar and provides resources on getting started, including a participation challenge to complete the Stellar Quest onboarding.

1. Introduction to Stellar
Introduction to Stellar
Hack Africa
1
Anke Liu
Community and Events Manager VP of Ecosystem
Justin Rice
Stellar Development Foundation

2. Introduction to Stellar
Challenges for Hack Africa + Resources
2
Agenda
Questions
How does Stellar work?
Blockchain basics
Power of Stellar
What is Stellar?

3. Introduction to Stellar
3
What is Stellar?
A decentralized, open
network that connects
the world’s financial
infrastructure
What is Stellar?

4. Introduction to Stellar
Introduction to Stellar
Stellar makes it possible to create,
send and trade digital representations
of all forms of money
What is Stellar?

5. Introduction to Stellar
5
For end-users...
Stellar is a fast, efficient
network for trading, saving,
and spending digital money.
SENDER ADDRESS
GH7721 RECIPIENT ADDRESS
GB3CP6
RECIPIENT ADDRESS
GCCD6A
SENDER ADDRESS
GBY6YP
What is Stellar?

6. Introduction to Stellar
6
For builders...
it’s open financial infrastructure.
Anyone can access it; there’s no
permission or application needed.
What is Stellar?

7. Introduction to Stellar
7
blockchain ≠ cryptocurrency
synchronized across multiple, independent
stakeholders.
Blockchain Basics

8. Introduction to Stellar
Date Transaction Nr
4/2/21
4/3/21
4/4/21
4/5/21
Lisa sends $50 to Justin
Cem trades €17 for $20
Anke sends €40 to Tyler
Tyler trades €40 for $47
1
2
3
4
Blockchain Basics

9. Introduction to Stellar
Centralized
database
Blockchain Basics

10. Introduction to Stellar
Centralized
database
Blockchain
Blockchain Basics

11. Introduction to Stellar
11
Blockchain is a public time-stamped series
of immutable records of data
synchronized across multiple, independent
stakeholders.
Blockchain Basics

12. Introduction to Stellar
12
Blockchain is a public time-stamped series
of immutable records of data
synchronized across multiple, independent
stakeholders.
Blockchain is a public time-stamped series
of immutable records of data
synchronized across multiple, independent
stakeholders.
Blockchain Basics

13. Introduction to Stellar
13
Intended function Digital Gold Decentralized applications Payments & Asset Issuance
Consensus
mechanism
Proof of Work Proof of Work (eventually Proof of
Stake)
Federated Byzantine
Agreement (SCP)
Open participation Yes Yes Yes
FLP impossibility
proof preference
Liveness Liveness Safety
Latency Per block: ~12 minutes*
After 3 confirmations**: 36 min.
Per block: ~13 seconds*
After 35 confirmations**: ~8 min.
3-5 seconds*
Avg. Cost per tx $8.18* $7.36* $0.0000298*
Energy consumption High High Low
Asymptotic security No No Yes
* Average over the past 6 months from 12/01/20-5/31/21 ** Required confirmation times on Coinbase
Blockchain Basics

14. Introduction to Stellar
14
Stellar Network
Made out of nodes
● Nodes are computers that run Stellar core
● Each node keeps a copy of the global ledger
● Anyone can run a node
● The network is decentralized
Stellar Network
How does Stellar work?

15. Introduction to Stellar
15
Understanding the ledger
● Tracks Ownership
● Synchronized across a network of
independent computers
● Stable, Secure, and Transparent
source: stellar.expert
How does Stellar work?

16. Introduction to Stellar
Date Transaction Nr
6/6/21
6/7/21
6/8/21
6/9/21
Lisa sends $50 to Justin
Cem trades €17 for $20
Anke sends €40 to Tyler
Tyler trades €40 for $47
1
2
3
4
How does Stellar work?

17. Introduction to Stellar
17
Transactions From One Block to the Next
LEDGER N
How does Stellar work?

18. Introduction to Stellar
18
Transactions From One Block to the Next
SENDER ADDRESS
GH7721
SENDER ADDRESS
GBY6YP
LEDGER N
Stellar Network
Stellar Network
How does Stellar work?

19. Introduction to Stellar
19
Transactions From One Block to the Next
SENDER ADDRESS
GH7721 RECIPIENT ADDRESS
GB3CP6
RECIPIENT ADDRESS
GCCD6A
SENDER ADDRESS
GBY6YP
LEDGER N
Stellar Network
Stellar Network
How does Stellar work?

20. Introduction to Stellar
RECIPIENT ADDRESS
GB3CP6
RECIPIENT ADDRESS
GCCD6A
20
Transactions From One Block to the Next
LEDGER N LEDGER N+1
SENDER ADDRESS
GH7721
SENDER ADDRESS
GBY6YP
Stellar Network
Stellar Network
How does Stellar work?

21. Introduction to Stellar
21
Accounts
on Stellar
● Saved on global ledger
● Hold balances, sign transactions, and issue assets
● Access controlled by public/private key cryptography
Structure
Stellar Network
Stellar Network
How does Stellar work?

22. Introduction to Stellar
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Public/Private key cryptography
on Stellar
● Public Key: GBSJ...Q7MG
Structure
Stellar Network
Stellar Network
How does Stellar work?

23. Introduction to Stellar
23
Public/Private key cryptography
on Stellar
● Public Key: GBSJ...Q7MG
● Secret Key: SBYH...CZRQ
Structure
Stellar Network
Stellar Network
How does Stellar work?

24. Introduction to Stellar
24
Account Creation
● In order for a keypair to exist as an account, another account needs to use the operation
called ‘Create account’, which funds the new account with a specified starting balance
Interacting with Stellar
How does Stellar work?

25. Introduction to Stellar
25
On Stellar, you can...
Issue your own assets
in a few simple lines of code!
The power of Stellar

26. Introduction to Stellar
26
Trustlines
● A trustline is needed before one account can hold an asset another account issues.
● Can track liabilities
● Can limit the amount of an asset an account can hold
● Relevant operations
○ ‘Change Trust’
○ ‘Set TrustLine Flags’
The power of Stellar

27. Introduction to Stellar
27
Payments
● Normal payment: sends an amount in a specific asset to a destination account through the operation
‘Payment’
○ I send USD, you receive USD
○ Creates new assets
The power of Stellar

28. Introduction to Stellar
28
Fiat currencies
Asset tokenization on Stellar
● In the form of CBDCs and stablecoins
● Issuers and/or on- and off-ramp
providers to the traditional banking
system by anchors
The power of Stellar

29. Introduction to Stellar
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On- and off-ramps for the network
Anchors
● Connect Stellar to local banking
systems
● Handle regulatory compliance
● Maintain fiat reserves equivalent to the
value of issued tokens
The power of Stellar

30. Introduction to Stellar
30
The power of Stellar

31. Introduction to Stellar
Plug into the world of Stellar assets
Your app Anchor network on Stellar
The power of Stellar

32. Introduction to Stellar
32
The power of Stellar

33. Introduction to Stellar
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On Stellar, you can...
Trade tokens peer-to-peer
using the Stellar Decentralized Exchange
The power of Stellar

34. Introduction to Stellar
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On Stellar, you can...
Transform currency
as you send it
The power of Stellar

35. Introduction to Stellar
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Path Payment
● Allows a user to send one currency and have the recipient receive another
● Stellar automatically finds the best conversion rate via the DEX
The power of Stellar

36. Introduction to Stellar
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A connected,
interoperable
world.
That creates
equitable access
to the global
financial system.
The power of Stellar

37. Introduction to Stellar
Build a project on Stellar …
...that solves a real-world problem
$3000 worth of XLM
$2000 worth of XLM
$1000 worth of XLM
Stellar challenge + resources

38. Introduction to Stellar
38
Spotlight: Uhuru Wallet
a WhatsApp based wallet that allows
for sending intra-African payments
● Send and receive payment to/from users
● Pay for utility and airtime
● Transact in USDC
Stellar challenge + resources

39. Introduction to Stellar
39
Spotlight: Leaf Global Fintech
Banking beyond the branch
● Enables customers to store savings, send and receive money
from abroad, make payments, and manage money
● Designed for refugees, cross-border traders, and the
financially marginalized
● Active in Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya
Stellar challenge + resources

40. Introduction to Stellar
40
Spotlight: Vibrant
A dollar-savings app
● Meet Vibrant, the app that gives people
inflation-beating tools
● Their easy to use platform lets Latin Americans
buy and store digital assets backed 1:1 with the
US dollar.
Stellar challenge + resources

41. Introduction to Stellar
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Spotlight: DSTOQ
Delivering equitable access to
investment in emerging markets
● Micro investing available to billions of people
● Users from emerging markets have
unprecedented access to blue chip and even
fractionalized shares
● Allows users to securely trade assets under the
safety of the European legal framework.
Stellar challenge + resources

42. Introduction to Stellar
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Community
Project
Tools
Developer
Docs
Intro to
Stellar
Horizon
API
Ready-to-use
Boilerplates
Technical
workshops
You + Stellar + Hack Africa
Hands-on
Learning
Stellar challenge + resources

43. Introduction to Stellar
43
You + Stellar + Hack Africa
bit.ly/stellarforhackafrica
● Check out the guide!
Stellar challenge + resources

44. Introduction to Stellar
Introduction to Stellar
Secret Participation Prize
??
Stellar challenge + resources

45. Introduction to Stellar
Introduction to Stellar
Participation Challenge: Stellar Quest!
$50 worth of XLM will be awarded...
...to the first 50 Hack Africa teams that...
complete at least series 1 & 2 of Stellar Quest!
Stellar challenge + resources

46. Introduction to Stellar
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Stellar Quest - onboarding quest.stellar.org
Stellar challenge + resources

47. Introduction to Stellar
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Stellar Quest - complete quests quest.stellar.org
Stellar challenge + resources

48. Introduction to Stellar
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Stellar Quest - claim awards quest.stellar.org
Stellar challenge + resources

49. Introduction to Stellar
Introduction to Stellar
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Attend our second
workshop on July 7th at
6:30pm GMT+1
Learn more on stellar.org
Stellar challenge + resources

50. Introduction to Stellar
Introduction to Stellar
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Questions?
Follow us
@StellarOrg

51. Introduction to Stellar
Ask us for help!
Anke - Community & Events Manager
anke#4726 on Discord
anke@stellar.org
Tyler - Ecosystem Evangelist
kalepail#8891 on Discord
tyler@stellar.org
● Join #stellar in the Encode Club Discord
● Connect to the broader Stellar community in Stellar
Global on Discord