Japanese crypto exchange BitFlyer has stopped crediting incoming Stellar (XLM) deposits after technical difficulties with the Stellar network’s API prevented normal processing. The disruption began at 11:49 p.m. Japan Standard Time on Monday, October 19, 2026, with BitFlyer identifying access restrictions to the official Stellar API as the source of the issue.
API access disrupts XLM deposits
BitFlyer, a leading digital asset trading platform in Japan founded in 2014, relies on the Stellar Development Foundation’s official API to process inbound XLM payments. The foundation is a nonprofit organization responsible for overseeing and maintaining the Stellar network, which focuses on efficient cross-border payments and tokenized assets.
Access restrictions to this API have prevented the automatic crediting of XLM sent from external sources to BitFlyer customer accounts. As a result, users attempting to deposit XLM since late Monday have seen their transactions go uncredited.
BitFlyer stated in an official notice,
“Since approximately 11:49 pm (JST) on Monday, October 19, 2026, Stellar Lumens (XLM) received from external sources has not been credited to BitFlyer accounts as usual. This is due to access restrictions on the official Stellar API (Stellar Development Foundation), which BitFlyer uses.”
The exchange has begun working on alternative methods to restore normal deposit services but has not specified when XLM deposits will resume being credited. As of this report, BitFlyer has not announced further updates.
Impacts limited to inbound XLM deposits
BitFlyer clarified that this technical disruption only affects the crediting of incoming XLM transfers. Customers can still send XLM and transact with other supported digital assets without interruption. Withdrawals and other crypto asset operations remain unaffected.
Users sending Stellar Lumens to their BitFlyer accounts might encounter delays until the technical issue with the Stellar API is resolved. The exchange emphasized that the incident has not led to a general suspension of Stellar transactions on the platform.
Mini dictionary: Stellar Development Foundation, a nonprofit entity supporting the development and growth of the Stellar network, maintains the APIs necessary for integration with third-party services.
Stellar network sees record growth in Q3
Despite this disruption, Stellar released its Q3 2026 performance report, highlighting significant increases in network activity. The network’s total volume reached $33.2 billion, representing a 71% increase from Q2 and 62% growth year-on-year. According to Stellar, new integrations by banks, stablecoin issuers, and fund managers contributed to this surge.
Stablecoin transfer volume on Stellar accelerated even further, reaching $25.1 billion in the third quarter—a rise of 121% over the previous quarter. Stablecoin velocity, which measures transaction frequency before balances appear in user accounts, also rose by 55%.
Tokenized real-world assets on the Stellar network grew to $4.1 billion at the end of Q3 2026, marking a 36% increase over Q2 and a 548% rise compared to the same quarter in 2025.
| Metric | Q3 2026 | Change from Q2 2026 | Change from Q3 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Volume | $33.2 billion | +71% | +62% |
| Stablecoin Transfer Volume | $25.1 billion | +121% | — |
| Tokenized Real-World Assets | $4.1 billion | +36% | +548% |
These increases underscore the network’s momentum in supporting institutional adoption and real-world asset tokenization.
