Destination Tags (Critical)

• Exchanges require destination tags to credit deposits — sending without tag means lost funds or lengthy recovery
• Destination tag is a number (not text) attached to a transaction — identifies which user's account to credit
• Always verify tag before sending to exchange — wrong tag sends funds to wrong user
• Self-custody wallets don't need destination tags — only exchanges and shared wallets use them
• If tag is forgotten, contact exchange support immediately — recovery is possible but slow

Account Reserve

• XRP accounts require 10 XRP base reserve to exist — this is locked and not spendable
• Each "object" (trust lines, offers, escrows) adds 2 XRP owner reserve — more features = more locked XRP
• Cannot send entire balance — must leave reserve amount or transaction fails
• Reserve amounts can change via network amendments — currently 10 + 2 per object
• Deleting account recovers most reserve minus 2 XRP fee — requires no objects and destination tag

Transaction Characteristics

• XRP transactions settle in 3-5 seconds — much faster than Bitcoin/Ethereum
• Transaction cost is ~0.00001 XRP (fractions of a cent) — burned, not paid to validators
• No mempool or pending state — transactions either succeed immediately or fail
• Sequence number per account like Ethereum nonce — transactions must be sequential

Trust Lines and Tokens

• XRPL tokens require trust lines — you must explicitly trust an issuer before receiving their tokens
• Trust line costs 2 XRP reserve until removed — don't create unnecessary trust lines
• Trustline rippling can cause unexpected balance changes — disable rippling for issued currencies
• Anyone can issue tokens — verify issuer identity before trusting, many scams exist

Wallet Types

• Secret key formats: family seed (s...), hex, or mnemonic — each wallet may use different format
• Xumm is most popular mobile wallet — supports all XRPL features
• Hardware wallets support XRP — Ledger with full feature support
• XRPL has native DEX — no smart contracts needed for trading

Common Transaction Failures

• "tecUNFUNDED" — insufficient balance after accounting for reserve
• "tecNO_DST_TAG" — exchange address requires destination tag
• "tecPATH_DRY" — payment path has no liquidity (for cross-currency payments)
• "tefPAST_SEQ" — sequence number already used, transaction is a duplicate
• "terQUEUED" — transaction queued due to account limit, will process shortly

Exchanges and Withdrawals

• Many exchanges freeze XRP withdrawals during network upgrades — check status before panicking
• Exchange minimum withdrawal often 20-25 XRP due to reserve requirements
• Some exchanges don't support XRPL tokens — only native XRP
• Verify exchange wallet is not in "maintenance" before large sends

Security

• Never share secret key or family seed — full access to all account funds
• Regular key allows delegation without exposing master key — good for trading with limited risk
• Escrow feature for trustless time-locked payments — built into protocol
• Multi-signing available — require multiple keys to authorize transactions

DEX Trading

• XRPL has native decentralized exchange — trade any issued tokens
• Order book model, not AMM — limit orders, not swaps
• Offers can be partially filled — check order status after placing
• Payment paths can auto-convert currencies — send USD, recipient receives EUR

Scam Recognition

• "XRP airdrop" requiring seed phrase is always a scam
• Fake giveaways on social media impersonating Ripple executives
• "Double your XRP" promotions are theft
• Verify any official announcements on ripple.com or XRPL Foundation