XRP News Today: Ripple to Launch Ethereum Compatible Sidechain on XRPL in 2025

Ripple, a prominent player in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space, has announced a significant development that is set to expand the capabilities of its XRP Ledger (XRPL). At the APEX 2025 conference in Singapore, Ripple's Chief Technology Officer (CTO), David Schwartz, revealed plans to launch an Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatible sidechain on the XRPL. This initiative aims to integrate the low-cost transaction capabilities of XRPL with the smart contract functionality of Ethereum, creating a more versatile and powerful blockchain ecosystem.

The EVM sidechain is scheduled to go live in the second quarter of 2025. This sidechain will enable developers to deploy Ethereum-based smart contracts directly onto the XRPL, introducing new functionalities such as liquidity pools, token swaps, and staking. The compatibility with EVM will allow the XRPL to support Ethereum-based decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts, thereby expanding its use cases and attracting a broader range of developers and users.

Schwartz highlighted the success of the testnet, which was launched earlier this year. The testnet has seen rapid growth, with 87 new companies previously unaffiliated with XRP beginning to build infrastructure, applications, and services on the testnet. Once the mainnet launches, all of these elements will become part of the XRP ecosystem, potentially marking the largest participation in XRP history. This development is expected to position Ripple more competitively against other layer-1 blockchains that support EVM, such as Ethereum, BNB Chain, and Avalanche.

According to experts, the full integration of the EVM sidechain into the XRPL will be a major milestone for Ripple. This move is anticipated to enhance the network's functionality and attractiveness, making it a more robust platform for developers and users alike. The integration of smart contract capabilities with the existing low-cost transaction features of XRPL is expected to create a more comprehensive and efficient blockchain ecosystem, capable of supporting a wide range of decentralized applications and financial services.