Stellar X-Ray Protocol 25: Unlocking ZK Privacy and Developer Power
Stellar’s Latest Upgrade: X-Ray Protocol 25
Stellar ($XLM) has unveiled X-Ray Protocol 25, its most advanced smart contract upgrade yet, focusing on zero-knowledge (ZK) cryptography for privacy-preserving applications. Announced on November 25, 2025, this release introduces native support for BN254 elliptic curves and Poseidon/Poseidon2 hash functions, enabling efficient zk-SNARK proof verification on-chain. For developers, it’s a toolkit to build compliant, transparent apps without exposing sensitive data. As the Stellar team shared, “This lays the groundwork for higher-level privacy solutions in our long-term strategy.” With Stellar’s ecosystem already boasting $639M in RWAs and $4.2B quarterly payments, X-Ray 25 supercharges Soroban for ZK innovation.
Key Features: BN254 Curves and Poseidon Hashes for ZK Magic
X-Ray 25 packs powerful primitives. It adds host functions like bn254_g1_add, bn254_g1_mul, and bn254_multi_pairing_check for BN254 operations, a pairing-friendly curve for zk-SNARKs. Poseidon/Poseidon2 permutations follow, optimized for ZK circuits with fewer constraints. These match Ethereum’s EIP-196/197 precompiles, easing migrations. Moreover, developers avoid costly on-chain hashing, cutting compute by up to 50%. As a result, apps verify proofs efficiently. No more expensive reimplementations. Thus, Stellar joins the ZK elite, rivaling Polygon or zkSync.
Developer Benefits: Simpler ZK Builds and Ecosystem Ties
For devs, X-Ray 25 lowers barriers. Configure BN254 or BLS12-381 curves for flexible privacy. Integrate with ZK tools like Lighter, Starknet, or ZK Email. As the release notes, “It enables feature parity with EVM environments.” Specifically, consistent hashing across on/off-chain logic speeds audits. Migration from Ethereum? Seamless. As a bonus, it supports RWAs, verify tokenized Treasury ownership privately. Lumexo, Stellar’s top wallet and DEX, amplifies this. Trade $XLM or RWAs with ZK-enhanced privacy. No KYC for small swaps. Thus, devs build faster. Users stay sovereign.
User and Ecosystem Impact: Privacy Meets Real-World Utility
Users gain from transparent-yet-private apps. Verify transactions without revealing details. For payments, ZK proofs ensure compliance without doxxing. Stellar’s $144M DeFi TVL (up 71% QoQ) benefits too. ZK lending on Blend? Secure. As Messari highlights, X-Ray 25 positions Stellar for “compliance-forward privacy.” RWAs like BENJI ($849M) add ZK for confidential yields. Lumexo integrates this seamlessly. Swap USDC privately. Earn 4-5% on Treasuries. As a result, adoption grows. $XLM hit $0.34 post-release, up 2%.
Stellar’s ZK Horizon: From Protocol to Programmable Privacy
In short, X-Ray 25 isn’t incremental. It’s foundational. ZK primitives unlock privacy at scale. Devs innovate. Users trust. Lumexo makes it accessible. As Q1 2026 pilots launch, watch DeFi evolve. Stellar isn’t just fast. It’s private.