Learning Xahau: What is Xahau?

Welcome to Learning Xahau, a series of posts where we’ll try to explain the Xahau blockchain, its features, how it works, and even build our own examples in a way that’s accessible to everyone. In today’s article, we’ll broadly discuss what Xahau is — and what it isn’t — debunk some common misconceptions, and dive into a few basic concepts. What is Xahau? Xahau is a layer 1 blockchain built from the XRP Ledger codebase, enhanced with features and improvements that are not present in the original XRP Ledger. Its native token is called XAH, and the blockchain has been live on mainnet since October 30, 2023. Xahau shines for its speed, low cost and efficiency already proven for more than ten years based on the original XRP Ledger code. Xahau is perfect for moving and exchanging value. Organizations, financial institutions and individuals can benefit from its features. Why Xahau? Xahau was not planned to exist but fate decided that it would. For several years, the XRPL-Labs team decided to devise and implement a smart-contracts solution for the XRP Ledger blockchain under the name Hooks. The solution was never merged into the XRP Ledger blockchain, so the work of years was going to be forgotten as it would not fulfill its ultimate goal. That is why, a modification of the XRP Ledger code base was made, new features were added and the Hooks solution was implemented, which would allow to see advanced logic in a blockchain based on XRP Ledger technology under a new name, Xahau. Xahau was able to see the light of day thanks to the work of the Xahau Launch Alliance, a now disbanded organization to which several players who supported the launch of Xahau belonged. What features does Xahau have—and what doesn’t it have? As mentioned above, Xahau is not a simple copy of the XRP Ledger with smart contract capabilities added via Hooks. Although the codebases share similarities in how they operate, there are clear differences that, at the time of writing, can be summarized as follows: URITokens: A new concept of NFTs, different from what’s available on the XRP Ledger. These are simpler to manage and index, but do not natively support royalties like XRP Ledger NFTs. However, thanks to Hooks, you can create your own custom royalty logic. Hooks: Advanced pieces of code created by yourself or third parties, installable on Xahau accounts (up to 10 per account). Hooks are autonomous and don’t require network consensus to be activated. As long as a Hook has no errors and compiles correctly, it can be installed on Xahau. Hooks enable a business logic layer not possible on the XRP Ledger. Governance Game: Different committees vote on decisions within the Xahau network, allowing for greater democratization. Claim Reward: Xahau has an annual inflation rate of 4%, which benefits all Xahau users. The XAH you hold determines the share of monthly rewards you can claim, if desired. Faster amendment approval: XRP Ledger requires 14 days of positive votes above threshold to activate an amendment. Xahau only requires 5 days. Different supply: Xahau launched with 600 million XAH and has an annual growth close to 4%. As of May 12, 2025, there are 627,711,384 XAH in circulation. You can check the current supply at this API: Xahau API Supply Info Escrows for IOUs: In addition to creating escrows for XAH, you can also manage escrows for other tokens of any kind (this is not possible on the XRP Ledger). Remits: A transaction type that allows users to send multiple payment types, mint a URIToken, transfer a list of URITokens, and activate an account—all at once. In addition to these unique features, Xahau shares the following characteristics with the XRP Ledger: Token creation (IOUs): Xahau allows users to issue tokens representing real or fictional assets. DEX: A native decentralized exchange that allows creating offers for tokens, XAH, or URITokens. Multisigning: Xahau supports multi-signature account control. Payment Channels Some native XRP Ledger implementations like the AMM haven’t been adopted by Xahau yet, though alternative approaches are being developed as seen in the proposal XAS-1 or in XRPLWin Xahau Testnet Explorer. The base codes of Xahau and XRP Ledger are diverging, as both chains are following different paths. New features in XRP Ledger won’t automatically appear in Xahau, since the code is no longer the same. However, thanks to Hooks, many features that would take months to be introduced into the XRP Ledger core and require validator approval can be implemented in Xahau within days or weeks—without requiring validator consensus. What is Xahau not? Xahau is not a Layer 2 of the XRP Ledger. Xahau is an independent blockchain with its own token. There is no connectivity between Xahau and the XRP Ledger, so it’s not a sidechain either. While Xahau did initially launch with a mechanism called Burn2Mint—which allowed users to burn XRP in exchange for XAH on the Xahau network—this mechanism has been disabled. Theref

May 12, 2025 - 18:43

Welcome to Learning Xahau, a series of posts where we’ll try to explain the Xahau blockchain, its features, how it works, and even build our own examples in a way that’s accessible to everyone.

In today’s article, we’ll broadly discuss what Xahau is — and what it isn’t — debunk some common misconceptions, and dive into a few basic concepts.

What is Xahau?

Xahau is a layer 1 blockchain built from the XRP Ledger codebase, enhanced with features and improvements that are not present in the original XRP Ledger. Its native token is called XAH, and the blockchain has been live on mainnet since October 30, 2023.

Xahau shines for its speed, low cost and efficiency already proven for more than ten years based on the original XRP Ledger code.

Xahau is perfect for moving and exchanging value. Organizations, financial institutions and individuals can benefit from its features.

Why Xahau?

Xahau was not planned to exist but fate decided that it would. For several years, the XRPL-Labs team decided to devise and implement a smart-contracts solution for the XRP Ledger blockchain under the name Hooks. The solution was never merged into the XRP Ledger blockchain, so the work of years was going to be forgotten as it would not fulfill its ultimate goal. That is why, a modification of the XRP Ledger code base was made, new features were added and the Hooks solution was implemented, which would allow to see advanced logic in a blockchain based on XRP Ledger technology under a new name, Xahau.

Xahau was able to see the light of day thanks to the work of the Xahau Launch Alliance, a now disbanded organization to which several players who supported the launch of Xahau belonged.

What features does Xahau have—and what doesn’t it have?

As mentioned above, Xahau is not a simple copy of the XRP Ledger with smart contract capabilities added via Hooks. Although the codebases share similarities in how they operate, there are clear differences that, at the time of writing, can be summarized as follows:

URITokens: A new concept of NFTs, different from what’s available on the XRP Ledger. These are simpler to manage and index, but do not natively support royalties like XRP Ledger NFTs. However, thanks to Hooks, you can create your own custom royalty logic.
Hooks: Advanced pieces of code created by yourself or third parties, installable on Xahau accounts (up to 10 per account). Hooks are autonomous and don’t require network consensus to be activated. As long as a Hook has no errors and compiles correctly, it can be installed on Xahau. Hooks enable a business logic layer not possible on the XRP Ledger.
Governance Game: Different committees vote on decisions within the Xahau network, allowing for greater democratization.
Claim Reward: Xahau has an annual inflation rate of 4%, which benefits all Xahau users. The XAH you hold determines the share of monthly rewards you can claim, if desired.
Faster amendment approval: XRP Ledger requires 14 days of positive votes above threshold to activate an amendment. Xahau only requires 5 days.
Different supply: Xahau launched with 600 million XAH and has an annual growth close to 4%. As of May 12, 2025, there are 627,711,384 XAH in circulation. You can check the current supply at this API: Xahau API Supply Info
Escrows for IOUs: In addition to creating escrows for XAH, you can also manage escrows for other tokens of any kind (this is not possible on the XRP Ledger).
Remits: A transaction type that allows users to send multiple payment types, mint a URIToken, transfer a list of URITokens, and activate an account—all at once.

In addition to these unique features, Xahau shares the following characteristics with the XRP Ledger:

Token creation (IOUs): Xahau allows users to issue tokens representing real or fictional assets.
DEX: A native decentralized exchange that allows creating offers for tokens, XAH, or URITokens.
Multisigning: Xahau supports multi-signature account control.
Payment Channels

Some native XRP Ledger implementations like the AMM haven’t been adopted by Xahau yet, though alternative approaches are being developed as seen in the proposal XAS-1 or in XRPLWin Xahau Testnet Explorer.

The base codes of Xahau and XRP Ledger are diverging, as both chains are following different paths. New features in XRP Ledger won’t automatically appear in Xahau, since the code is no longer the same. However, thanks to Hooks, many features that would take months to be introduced into the XRP Ledger core and require validator approval can be implemented in Xahau within days or weeks—without requiring validator consensus.

What is Xahau not?

Xahau is not a Layer 2 of the XRP Ledger. Xahau is an independent blockchain with its own token. There is no connectivity between Xahau and the XRP Ledger, so it’s not a sidechain either.

While Xahau did initially launch with a mechanism called Burn2Mint—which allowed users to burn XRP in exchange for XAH on the Xahau network—this mechanism has been disabled. Therefore, it's incorrect to consider Xahau a sidechain of the XRP Ledger (or vice versa).

The XAH available on the XRP Ledger DEX is not native XAH—just as the BTC or ETH on XRP Ledger are not real BTC or ETH. They are IOUs issued within XRP Ledger. XAH on the XRP Ledger is not eligible for ClaimReward. To benefit, you must move that XAH to the Xahau network. There is a xApp in Xaman called XAH Teleport that allows you to transfer XAH from XRP Ledger to your Xahau account.

Links

Official Website
Official Docs
Hooks Builder
Discord Server
Xahaud
X Account