Getting Started with Meridian First Steps

Meridian runs on the XRP Ledger testnet — a sandbox environment where you can try every feature with free test XRP. Nothing you do on testnet costs real money or affects real assets. Here's what you need:

• An XRPL wallet — Xaman (recommended), GemWallet, Crossmark, or any WalletConnect-compatible XRPL wallet
• A web browser — Chrome, Brave, Firefox, or Safari
• 5 minutes — wallet setup takes about 2 minutes, your first transaction about 3

No email address, no account creation, no personal information required. Your XRPL wallet address is your identity on Meridian.

We recommend Xaman(formerly XUMM) for the best experience. It's available on iOS and Android:

Xaman (recommended)

1. Download Xaman from the App Store or Google Play
2. Open the app and tap "Create a new account"
3. Write down your secret numbers (this is your recovery key — store it safely offline)
4. Set a 6-digit passcode or enable biometric authentication
5. Your wallet is ready — you'll see your XRP address starting with "r"

Browser wallets (alternative)

GemWallet and Crossmark are browser extensions that work like MetaMask for XRPL. Install from the Chrome Web Store, create a wallet, and save your seed phrase securely.

Important security notes

• Never share your seed phrase, secret numbers, or private key with anyone
• No legitimate service will ever ask for your seed phrase
• Store your recovery information offline (paper, not screenshots)
• Your wallet address (starting with "r") is public and safe to share

Visit meridianmarket.xyz and click "Connect Wallet"in the top right corner. You'll see a list of supported wallets.

How connection works

Meridian uses challenge-based authentication — here's what happens when you connect:

1. Meridian generates a random challenge string
2. Your wallet asks you to sign this challenge (Xaman shows a signing request, browser wallets show a popup)
3. You approve the signature in your wallet
4. Meridian verifies the cryptographic signature matches your wallet address
5. You're connected — no password needed, ever

This process proves you own the wallet without ever exposing your private key. The signed challenge cannot be reused or forged. You can learn more about why this matters in our marketplace security guide.

Since Meridian is currently on testnet, you need free test XRPto try the platform. Test XRP has no real value — it's purely for experimenting.

Using the XRPL Testnet Faucet

1. Visit the XRPL Testnet Faucet
2. Paste your wallet address (the "r" address from your wallet)
3. Click "Generate Testnet Credentials" or "Fund Account"
4. Your wallet will receive 1,000 test XRP within seconds

The testnet faucet can be used multiple times. If you run out of test XRP, just fund your wallet again.

Verifying your balance

After funding, your balance should appear in your wallet app. On Meridian, your XRP balance shows in the navbar after connecting. The XRP Ledger requires a minimum account reserve of 10 XRP (testnet), which is locked in your wallet and can't be spent. Your available balance is your total minus this reserve.

Ready to sell something? Navigate to List Asset from the navbar.

What you'll need

• 1-5 photos of the item (clear, well-lit, showing condition)
• A title and description
• Price in USD (automatically converted to XRP at current rates)
• Category and condition
• Shipping details (flat rate or calculated)

What happens when you list

1. Your photos and description are uploaded to IPFS (permanent, decentralized storage)
2. An NFT is minted on the XRP Ledger representing your item
3. Your wallet will ask you to sign the minting transaction — approve it
4. The listing appears on the marketplace within seconds

Listing is free — you only pay the standard XRPL network fee (~$0.0002) for the NFT minting transaction. The 0.5% platform fee is only collected when a sale completes.

Your item's documentation (photos, description, condition) is now permanently recorded on IPFS and linked to the NFT. This creates a tamper-proof provenance record that follows the item through every future transaction.

Browse the marketplace and find an item you want to buy. Click into the listing to see full details, photos, seller reputation, and shipping options.

The purchase flow

1. Click "Buy Now" on the listing page
2. Review the price breakdown (item price + shipping + 0.5% platform fee)
3. Your wallet will ask you to sign the escrow creation transaction — this locks your XRP in an on-chain escrow
4. Once you approve, the escrow is created on the XRP Ledger in 3-5 seconds
5. The seller is notified and begins preparing your shipment

What "escrow" means for you

Your XRP is not sent to the seller — it's locked in an XRPL escrow object that no one controls. The seller can't access the funds until you confirm delivery. If something goes wrong, the escrow has a CancelAfter date (45 days) after which you can reclaim your XRP. You can also open a dispute at any time before the escrow releases.

After the seller ships your item, here's what happens:

Shipping and tracking

1. The seller marks the item as shipped and enters tracking information
2. You can monitor the shipment in real time on your order page
3. When the carrier confirms delivery, the 12-hour confirmation window begins

Confirming delivery

1. Inspect the item — does it match the listing description and photos?
2. If everything looks good, click "Confirm Delivery"
3. Your wallet will ask you to sign three sequential transactions:
   • EscrowFinish — releases the XRP from escrow to the seller
   • NFTokenAcceptOffer — transfers the item's NFT to your wallet
   • Fee Payment — sends the 0.5% platform fee
4. Each transaction is individually signed and verified on-chain

If something is wrong

If the item doesn't match, is damaged, or never arrives — click "Open Dispute" instead of confirming. This enters the negotiation and community voting process. Your funds remain safely locked in escrow throughout the dispute.

Auto-release

If you take no action within 12 hours after delivery confirmation, the escrow automatically releases to the seller. This protects sellers from unresponsive buyers while still giving you time to inspect.

Every completed transaction on Meridian earns you reputation and MRD tokens:

Reputation tiers

• New — 0 transactions (default)
• Verified — 5+ completed transactions
• Trusted — 20+ completed transactions
• Pro — subscription tier ($9.99/month in XRP, 0.3% platform fee)

Both buying and selling count toward your tier. Higher tiers unlock more listing slots and signal trustworthiness to other users.

MRD tokens

MRD (Meridian) is a Multi-Purpose Token on the XRP Ledger that powers the reputation economy:

• +1 MRD per completed transaction (buyer and seller both earn)
• +10 MRD per dispute vote cast
• -5 MRD to boost a listing for 24 hours
• -3 MRD to file a dispute (refunded if you win)

MRD requires a one-time authorization via your Xaman wallet. View your balance and history on the Rewards page.

Now that you've completed your first transaction, here's what to explore next:

• Try This First checklist — Interactive 6-step guide that walks you through every major feature
• XRPL Escrow Guide — Understand the protocol-level escrow that protects every transaction
• Marketplace Security — Learn how decentralized security works
• Pro membership — Reduced fees (0.3%), priority support, and additional listing slots
• FAQ — Answers to common questions about wallets, escrow, disputes, and tokens

Questions or feedback? Visit our feedback board or report a bug on GitHub.