The C# .NET Core 2.0 SDK is a free, open-source library that lets C# and .NET developers work with the Stellar network from Windows. It is aimed at programmers building Web3 tools, payment prototypes or test scripts that need to talk to Stellar, and it is not an end-user application.
Before you start, know that the project's GitHub repository is archived, which means it is no longer actively developed. The most recent code update is dated May 2024, so treat it as a reference or a starting point rather than a long-term dependency. Read the safety section before using it anywhere near real keys or funds.
What Is a .NET SDK for Stellar?
A software development kit, or SDK, is a set of code libraries and tools that saves developers from building common functions from scratch. A .NET SDK for Stellar wraps the network's operations in C# classes, so a program written in C# can create accounts, build transactions and query network data using familiar language constructs.
Stellar is a public blockchain network with its own native asset, XLM. Its design differs from networks such as Ethereum, so a library written for Stellar will not work with Ethereum tools, and the reverse is also true. Knowing that boundary saves time when you choose a library.
The library is a separate project from the network itself, so its scope depends on what it implements. Compare its feature coverage against the current Stellar documentation before relying on any specific function in production code.
Who Is This C# Library For?
This library suits C# developers who want to explore Stellar from the .NET ecosystem. A typical reader might be building a small internal service that records payments, a prototype of a wallet backend, or a test harness that sends transactions on a test network.
It is also useful for teams maintaining older .NET code that already references a Stellar SDK. Reading how an existing library structures its calls can make it easier to plan a migration to a newer, maintained option.
It is not designed for people who simply want to hold XLM or send payments with a few clicks. That job belongs to a consumer wallet, which is a different category with its own safety requirements.
Practical Use Cases and Key Concepts
Several terms come up repeatedly when working with Stellar from code. An account is identified by a public key, and transactions change balances or other ledger entries. A seed phrase or secret key authorizes those transactions, so anyone who holds it controls the account. A testnet is a separate network where coins have no real value, which makes it the right place for experiments.
A common scenario is a bookkeeping script that reads payment history for a set of accounts and writes the results to a spreadsheet. Another is a prototype checkout that submits a test payment and confirms the outcome. In both cases, start with read-only calls before writing any code that signs transactions.
Good habits matter more than the library itself, because a mistake with a real secret key cannot be reversed. Build your habits early by treating every new experiment as a test until you have reviewed error handling and results carefully.
Key features
Stellar network support
Open source code
Free to use
Windows build or installer
Supported coins
The library is documented around the Stellar network, with XLM as its native asset. Plan your project around that single network, since it is not a general tool for Ethereum, Solana or other blockchains.
How to install C# .NET Core 2.0 SDK on Windows
- 1
Download the files from the right source
Download only from the official website or the GitHub Releases page for the project. Avoid mirror sites, repackaged installers and links shared in chat groups, since these are common ways that tampered files spread.
- 2
Check the version
The most recent version on record is 9.0.54, even though the catalog name refers to .NET Core 2.0. Read the release notes to confirm which .NET framework each release targets, and pick the version that matches your project.
- 3
Verify the file
Compare the file's SHA-256 checksum with the value published alongside the release, or check the digital signature if one is provided. In PowerShell, run Get-FileHash with the SHA256 algorithm on the downloaded file and compare the output before running anything.
-
Run the installer or extract the build
Run the Windows installer, or extract the Windows build to a folder you control. Reference the library from a test project first, and keep the project separate from any code that touches real funds.
How to use C# .NET Core 2.0 SDK
This is a developer library, so the workflow happens inside a .NET project rather than in a standalone window. Work on a test network first, and keep real secret keys out of your code.
- Create a new console project in your .NET environment and confirm that it builds.
- Add the Stellar SDK library to the project, choosing a version that matches your target framework.
- Write a small program that connects to a Stellar test network and loads a public test account.
- Fund a test account through the network's test faucet, then submit a simple payment between two test accounts.
- Read the response your code receives and confirm that the balances changed as expected in a block explorer for the test network.
- Review error handling and how secrets are stored before you consider any connection to a live network.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source, with no purchase step
- Source code is public on GitHub for inspection and adaptation
- A Windows build or installer is available
- Designed for C# and .NET developers
- Documented for the Stellar network and its XLM asset
- The repository is archived and no longer actively developed
- The last code update is dated May 2024
- Coverage is limited to Stellar
- The catalog name and the latest version number do not match, which can confuse setup
- Not suitable for people who only want a wallet or a finished app
Is C# .NET Core 2.0 SDK safe?
This library is archived on GitHub, which means its maintainers have stopped active development. Expect no security patches, and check the repository's issues and forks for reported problems before you adopt it. The most recent code update is dated May 2024, so the code may lag behind current Stellar changes.
Download only from the official website or the GitHub Releases page, and verify the SHA-256 checksum or signature before running anything. Never enter a seed phrase, secret key or wallet password on third-party websites, including sites that claim to offer help with this library. Use a test network for experiments, and use separate keys for anything involving real value.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/elucidsoft/dotnet-stellar-sdk. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
The Stellar CLI is a command-line tool for Stellar developers, so it suits quick checks and scripts, while this library is for embedding Stellar calls inside a C# application. Use the CLI to test a transaction interactively, then port the logic into your code. RPC providers such as Alchemy, Infura and QuickNode are a service category for node access, not a replacement for a client library. Postman helps you test JSON-RPC endpoints without writing code. Tools like Remix, Foundry and Anchor target Solidity or Solana development and do not replace a Stellar library. For a C# team already working in .NET, this library keeps everything in one language, but its archived status makes a maintained alternative the safer choice for new work.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- 9.0.54
- Last update
- 24 May 2024
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/elucidsoft/dotnet-stellar-sdk
Frequently asked questions
It can be used safely with basic precautions, but the project is archived and no longer receives active updates. Get it only from the original GitHub repository or its Releases page, check the SHA-256 checksum, and test on a Stellar test network before handling real keys or funds.
No. The GitHub repository is archived, which means it is read-only and no longer accepts new development. The last code update is dated May 2024. Expect no new features or fixes, and plan to move to a maintained library if you are building something long term.
The documentation mentions the Stellar network and its native asset, XLM, and that is the scope to plan around. It is not a tool for Ethereum, Solana or other chains. If your project needs several networks, you will need a separate library for each one.
Yes. The library is a set of C# classes meant to be referenced from a .NET project, so you need to be comfortable writing and building C# code. If you only want to send XLM, a consumer wallet is a better fit, though it comes with its own security practices.
The catalog name mentions .NET Core 2.0, but the most recent version listed is 9.0.54. Those labels describe different things, so read the release notes and confirm which .NET framework each release targets before choosing one for your project.
Yes, it is listed as free and open source, and no license purchase is required. Your real costs are developer time and any infrastructure you run, such as a node connection or hosting for your own application.
Verdict
The C# .NET Core 2.0 SDK for Windows is a free, open-source option for C# developers who want to explore Stellar from .NET. Its archived status and the last code update in May 2024 make it better suited to learning, prototypes and reading older code than to new production systems. If you need a long-term dependency, look for an actively maintained library, or use the Stellar CLI for command-line work. Test on a test network first, and never let experiments touch keys that hold real value.