Stellar Core is the open-source node software at the heart of the Stellar network. It is aimed at developers, infrastructure operators and technically minded users who want to run their own copy of the network rather than rely on a third party. If you are building on Stellar or want to understand how the network keeps its records consistent, this is the program to study first.
Stellar Core is free and maintained in public, with its source code hosted on GitHub and a Windows build or installer available. The current release is v30.0.0, and the code has been updated recently. Expect a command-oriented tool rather than a point-and-click app, since it holds a ledger and talks to other nodes. This page explains what it does, how to install it safely, and where it fits among other Web3 tools.
What Is a Stellar Network Node?
A blockchain is only useful if many independent computers agree on the same record. On Stellar, those computers are nodes, and stellar-core is the software that makes a machine behave as one. A node stores a copy of the ledger, which is the running record of accounts and transactions, and it talks to other nodes to learn what has changed. Without this layer, applications would have to trust a single company to report the truth.
The term ledger appears throughout Stellar documentation, and it is worth understanding before you install anything. Think of it as a sequence of closed records, where each new set of transactions builds on the previous state. A node that keeps a local copy can check that state itself instead of accepting someone else's answer. That is the practical difference between using a network and running part of it.
Who Stellar Core Is For
Most people who use Stellar never run this software. They use wallets, exchanges and apps that connect to the network on their behalf. Stellar Core is aimed at a narrower group: developers who want to test against a real node, infrastructure teams who need an independent source of ledger data, and researchers who want to see how the protocol behaves under real conditions.
For example, a team building a payments integration might run an instance on a test machine to understand how ledger updates arrive before writing production code. Someone auditing data from a third-party service might use a local node to compare results. In both cases the value lies in control and transparency rather than convenience. If your goal is simply to send a payment, a wallet is a far better starting point.
How Does a Ledger Stay in Sync Across Nodes?
Each stellar-core instance acts as a peer. It connects to others, exchanges messages and works toward agreement on the next state of the ledger. When it falls behind, for instance after being offline, it catches up by requesting the information it is missing. The process is continuous: the network keeps producing new records, and a healthy node keeps pace.
Syncing is also where problems tend to show up. Network connectivity, disk speed and an incomplete local state can all slow a node down. Operators usually watch logs and sync status rather than assume the node is current. Treat sync as a health indicator, because a node that is out of step gives stale answers, however carefully the software was installed.
Key features
Local ledger copy
Peer synchronization
Rust codebase
How to install Stellar Core on Windows
- 1
Choose the right build
Open the Releases page on the stellar-core GitHub repository, or start from the project's official website. Look for the latest release, v30.0.0 at the time of writing, and pick the Windows build or installer. Download only from the official website or GitHub, never from mirrors or links shared in chat.
- 2
Verify the file
Compare the SHA-256 checksum of the downloaded file with the value published alongside the release, or check the signature if one is provided. A mismatch means the file should not be run. Do this before you open the installer.
- 3
Install and confirm the version
Run the installer, or unpack the Windows build into a folder you control. Confirm that the version reported matches the release you chose. Keep the program in a dedicated location so that future updates are easy to track.
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Prepare the environment
Set aside enough disk space and a stable internet connection, since a node stores ledger data and exchanges messages continuously. Decide where its configuration file will live before the first start, so that settings are easy to review later.
How to use Stellar Core
Running stellar-core is less about clicking buttons and more about deciding what role your instance plays. Start with an observer or test setup before anything that touches production traffic.
- Decide the purpose: an observer for reading ledger data, or a test environment for development.
- Create or edit the configuration file so the node knows which network to join and which peers to use.
- Start the program from a terminal and watch the first output for errors about configuration or connectivity.
- Allow the node to catch up. This can take time on a fresh install, so do not judge it by the first few minutes.
- Check sync status regularly and review the logs whenever the node drifts behind.
- Stop the node cleanly before updating to a new release, then verify the new file as described above.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source, with public code on GitHub
- Written in Rust, a language focused on performance and memory safety
- Recent release (v30.0.0) with ongoing code updates
- Windows build or installer available
- Gives direct, independent access to the ledger
- Aimed at technical users, not a simple desktop app
- Running a node requires ongoing attention to sync status and logs
- Local ledger data and network traffic consume storage and bandwidth
- Benefits are mostly for developers and operators rather than everyday users
Is Stellar Core safe?
Download stellar-core only from the official website or its GitHub repository, and use the Releases page to get the correct Windows build or installer. Before running the file, compare its SHA-256 checksum with the value published with the release, or verify the signature when one is provided. If the hash does not match, delete the file and download it again from the source.
Stellar Core is a node, not a wallet, so it should never need your seed phrase. Do not enter a seed phrase on any website or into any program that asks for one during setup. Keep the software updated, and run it on a machine you trust, because a node that holds network data and accepts connections is an attractive target if it is compromised.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/stellar/stellar-core. 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
Stellar Core sits at a different layer from most tools in the Web3 development category. Remix Desktop, Solidity and Foundry are built around writing and testing smart contracts, mainly for EVM-style chains. Visual Studio Code with Solidity extensions is an editor, and Tenderly CLI focuses on debugging and monitoring contracts. Anchor is a framework for building Solana programs.
Stellar Core, by contrast, is the node software that the Stellar network itself runs on. If you want hosted RPC access without running infrastructure, Alchemy, Infura and QuickNode are the usual alternatives, and Postman helps you test JSON-RPC endpoints. Choose based on whether you need to run the network layer or build on top of it.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- v30.0.0
- Last update
- 27 Oct 2026
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/stellar/stellar-core
Frequently asked questions
It can be, if you get it from the official source and check it. Use the Windows build or installer from the official website or the GitHub Releases page, then verify the SHA-256 checksum or signature before running it. Stellar Core does not need your seed phrase, so any prompt asking for one is a warning sign.
Yes. The software is free and open source, and its source code is published on GitHub. Your real costs come from the resources you use to run it, such as a machine with enough storage and a reliable internet connection.
No. Most people access Stellar through wallets, exchanges and apps that connect on their behalf. Running stellar-core makes sense when you want your own copy of the ledger, need independent data or are testing infrastructure. For everyday payments, a wallet is simpler.
Yes, the project provides a Windows build or installer alongside its releases. The current release is v30.0.0. Check the GitHub Releases page for the newest version and its verification files before you install.
The ledger is the shared record of accounts and transactions on the Stellar network. stellar-core keeps a local copy and updates it as the network confirms new transactions. A node holding this copy can check the state itself rather than relying on another party.
An RPC provider such as Alchemy, Infura or QuickNode runs the infrastructure for you and gives you API access. Stellar Core is software you run yourself. Using a provider is faster to start, while running your own node gives more control and independence, at the cost of ongoing maintenance.
Verdict
Stellar Core is the right choice for developers and operators who want to run their own node on the Stellar network. It is free, open source, available as a Windows build or installer, and actively updated, with v30.0.0 as the current release. It is not a casual app, and most people will do better with a wallet or a hosted RPC service. Before installing, check the latest version on the official website and verify the file you download.