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October 9, 2026· 6 min read

How to Create a Trustline on XRPL (Step-by-Step Guide)

What a Trustline Actually Is

You've found a token on XRPL you want to hold. You try to receive it, and the transaction fails. This is one of the most common friction points for people new to the XRP Ledger, and the fix is a trustline.

On XRPL, you can't just receive any token someone sends you. Your wallet must first explicitly authorize a line of credit with the issuing account. That authorization is a trustline. It tells the ledger: "I acknowledge this token exists, I know who issued it, and I'm willing to hold a balance of it."

This design is intentional. It prevents spam tokens from being forced into wallets without the owner's consent. It also means every token relationship on XRPL is opt-in by default.

Why Trustlines Cost XRP to Create

Creating a trustline isn't free. Each trustline you open reserves 2 XRP in your wallet. This XRP isn't spent or burned. It's locked as a reserve requirement and released back to you if you ever delete the trustline.

XRPL uses a reserve system to prevent ledger bloat. Every object you add to the ledger, including trustlines, escrows, and offers, increases your required reserve. The current base reserve is 10 XRP, and each object adds 2 XRP on top of that. Before you open a trustline, make sure your wallet holds enough XRP to cover the new reserve requirement.

If you're managing multiple tokens, those reserves add up. Keeping track of which trustlines you actually need is good hygiene.

How to Create a Trustline on XRPL

There are a few ways to do this depending on your setup. Here's a breakdown of the most common approaches.

Using Xumm (now Xaman)

Xaman is the most widely used XRPL wallet app for mobile. The process is straightforward.

  1. Open the app and go to your account.
  2. Tap the plus icon or navigate to "Add asset."
  3. Search for the token by name or paste the issuer's address and currency code manually.
  4. Review the token details, including the issuer address.
  5. Confirm the trustline transaction. The app will prompt you to sign it.

Once signed, the trustline is live on the ledger within seconds. You can now receive that token.

Using XRPL.org's Transaction Tools

If you prefer a browser-based approach, the XRPL.org developer tools let you submit a TrustSet transaction directly.

  1. Go to xrpl.org and navigate to the transaction sender or use a compatible interface.
  2. Select "TrustSet" as the transaction type.
  3. Fill in the currency code and the issuer's XRPL address.
  4. Set a limit amount. This is the maximum balance you're willing to hold. Setting it to a high number is common practice since the actual balance is controlled by what you receive, not the limit alone.
  5. Sign and submit the transaction with your wallet credentials.

The raw TrustSet transaction looks like this in JSON:

{
  "TransactionType": "TrustSet",
  "Account": "your_wallet_address",
  "LimitAmount": {
    "currency": "USD",
    "issuer": "issuer_account_address",
    "value": "1000000"
  }
}

The currency field accepts standard ISO codes like USD or EUR, or a 40-character hex code for custom tokens.

Using Code (xrpl.js)

If you're building an application or automating wallet setup, you can create trustlines programmatically using the xrpl.js library.

const xrpl = require('xrpl');

async function createTrustline() {
  const client = new xrpl.Client('wss://xrplcluster.com');
  await client.connect();

  const wallet = xrpl.Wallet.fromSeed('your_seed_here');

  const tx = {
    TransactionType: 'TrustSet',
    Account: wallet.address,
    LimitAmount: {
      currency: 'USD',
      issuer: 'issuer_account_address',
      value: '1000000'
    }
  };

  const result = await client.submitAndWait(tx, { wallet });
  console.log(result);
  await client.disconnect();
}

createTrustline();

Handle your seed carefully. Never expose it in a client-side application or commit it to a repository.

What to Check Before Trusting an Issuer

Opening a trustline is an on-chain action that connects your wallet to a specific issuer address. That connection is public and permanent until you delete it.

Before you open a trustline, verify a few things.

Is the issuer address correct? One character difference sends you to a completely different account. Always copy issuer addresses from official sources, not from social media or chat groups.

Does the issuer have a verified identity? On XRPL, issuers can attach metadata to their accounts using the AccountSet transaction. This includes a domain field that links the issuer account to a verifiable web domain. If an issuer has set this and the domain checks out, it's a meaningful signal.

Is there an XRPL toml file? The xrp-ledger.toml file is a standard that issuers publish on their domain to disclose account information, token details, and contact info. Checking for this file adds another layer of verification.

This is where Rhyzlo is useful. Rhyzlo aggregates issuer verification data, account metadata, and trust signals for tokens on XRPL. Instead of manually cross-referencing addresses and toml files, you can look up an issuer on Rhyzlo and see what's been verified before you commit to opening a trustline.

How to Delete a Trustline

If you no longer need a trustline, you can remove it. To do so, your balance for that token must be exactly zero. You can't delete a trustline while you're still holding the token.

Once your balance is zero, submit another TrustSet transaction with the limit set to "0". The ledger will remove the trustline and release the 2 XRP reserve back to your available balance.

In Xaman, this is usually done through the token settings in your asset list. Look for an option to remove or disable the asset.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

A few errors come up repeatedly with new XRPL users.

Trusting unverified issuers. Any account on XRPL can issue a token. The name might look legitimate. The address might be formatted correctly. That doesn't mean the issuer is trustworthy. Always verify.

Not accounting for the reserve. If your wallet only has 12 XRP and you're at the base reserve, you might not have enough free XRP to cover another 2 XRP reserve object.

Confusing currency codes. The same three-letter code can be issued by multiple accounts. USD issued by one account is completely different from USD issued by another. The issuer address is what distinguishes them.

Leaving unused trustlines open. Open trustlines lock up reserve XRP. If you're not using a token, delete the trustline and recover that reserve.

Start with Verified Issuers

Trustlines are a foundational part of how XRPL works. Understanding them correctly saves you from mistakes that can be hard to reverse, especially if you send XRP to the wrong issuer or open a line with a fraudulent account.

If you want to verify an issuer before opening a trustline, visit rhyzlo.com. Rhyzlo surfaces verification data, domain checks, and trust signals for XRPL accounts so you can make an informed decision before committing to any on-chain action.

Check any XRPL token before you trust it.

Go to Rhyzlo →