# What are Lumens (XLM)? Stellar has a native built-in token called the lumen, created to fill a unique role in the network. By design, Stellar requires that each account hold a small number of lumens at all times, helping ensure the network's overall safety and security. Having lumens in reserve activates a wallet on the network, allows it to send transactions, create trustlines to other Stellar assets, and pay network fees. Without Lumens, the Stellar network ledger could become overloaded due to no restrictions on account creation or submissions to the ledger, which could disrupt and overload the network. For more info: --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.aqua.network/ecosystem-overview/what-is-stellar/what-are-lumens-xlm.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.