XRPL Testnet checks Explained

The XRP Ledger offers many powerful features beyond simple payments — including checks, an underutilized but highly flexible mechanism for XRP transfers.

In this article, we explain what XRPL Testnet checks are, when and why to use them, and how you can create and redeem checks using Bithomp XRP Explorer.

What are checks on the XRP Ledger?

A Check is a transaction type that allows one account to promise a payment that can be claimed later by a designated recipient.

Unlike ordinary payments that settle immediately, a check:

• Is created and stored on-ledger until redeemed or expired
• Requires the intended recipient to claim it — funds do not transfer automatically

A check works like a traditional bank check, but it is created and stored directly on the XRP Ledger, where its status can be publicly verified.

When and Why Use checks?

Common use cases include:

Manual claiming of funds

checks allow the recipient to decide when to redeem the XRP. The payment does not settle automatically — the recipient must claim it.

This is useful when a transfer should not be completed immediately, for example pending internal approval or recipient confirmation. The funds remain in the sender’s account until the check is redeemed, providing flexibility without locking funds in escrow.

Verifiable payment promises

Because the check object exists on-ledger, it acts as a publicly verifiable payment commitment.

Deposit authorization restrictions

If the recipient has enabled Deposit Authorization and does not accept direct payments from unknown accounts, a check provides a practical workaround. Instead of sending funds immediately, you issue a check that the recipient can explicitly approve and redeem.

By the way, if you need to enable or disable the Deposit Authorization flag, you can do so here: Account settings page.

Sending tokens without an existing trustline

checks are also useful when the recipient has not yet established a trust line for a specific token.

A direct Payment would fail if the required trust line does not exist. However, a check can still be created. Once the recipient sets up the trust line, they can redeem the check using a CheckCash transaction.

Difference from Escrow

Check: Funds remain in the sender’s account until redeemed. Recipient action is required to claim the payment. Flexible and recipient-controlled.

Escrow: Funds are locked in the ledger until specific conditions (like a time or approval) are met. Less flexible, but enforces settlement automatically.

How checks Work

1. Creating a check

The sender initiates a CheckCreate transaction, specifying all the necessary information.

Once processed, the XRP Ledger creates a check object. This object can later be removed by either the sender or recipient using a CheckCancel transaction.

2. Redeeming a check

The recipient redeems the check by submitting a CheckCash transaction, which transfers the funds and deletes the check object.

Because the funds for a check are not reserved, redemption can fail if the sender’s balance is insufficient or there isn’t enough liquidity to complete the transfer. In such cases, the check stays on the ledger, and the recipient can attempt to cash it again later, either for the same or a different amount. The recipient can choose how much of the check to claim, but if he receives less than the full amount on the first attempt, there is no second chance to claim the remainder.

3. Expired checks

If the recipient does not redeem the check before it expires, the check object remains on the ledger until it is canceled by the sender or recipient.

Create and Redeem checks on Bithomp

Bithomp XRP Explorer provides a user-friendly interface for working with checks.

Create a check

You can issue a check HERE

Specify:

• The recipient’s account
• The amount that can be claimed
• An optional expiration period
• Destination tag (if required)
• Memo (will be public)

This removes the need to manually construct and submit XRP Ledger transactions.

Besides, our PRO Subscribers can also specify a custom transaction fee, Invoice ID, and Source Tag when creating a check, under Advanced Options.

Redeem a check

To redeem a check issued to your address:

• Visit your Account page
• View received checks associated with your address
• Click “Redeem”
• Sign the CheckCash transaction using any of the available signing options.

After confirmation, XRP is credited to your account.

Why Use Bithomp for checks?

Although checks are a native XRP Ledger feature, interacting with them directly can require manual transaction construction.

We simplify the process by:

• Offering a user-friendly web interface for quick and easy check creation.
• Supporting wallet-based signing (Ledger, Xaman, Gem, MetaMask, WalletConnect, CROSSMARK, and others ).
• Displaying issued and received checks on your account page which can be immediately redeemed or canceled.

Final Thoughts

checks are a powerful but often overlooked feature of the XRP Ledger. They provide:

• Controlled payment settlement
• Recipient-initiated redemption
• On-ledger verification of payment commitments

For use cases where immediate transfers are not ideal, checks offer a practical alternative without requiring complex smart contract logic.

🔥 With Bithomp, creating and redeeming checks is simple, intuitive, and efficient — making advanced XRP Ledger features easy to use for everyone, not just developers.