XRP News Today: XRPL EVM Sidechain Launches on Mainnet, Expanding XRP Ledger Capabilities

The XRPL EVM sidechain was officially deployed on the mainnet on June 30, marking a significant advancement for the XRP Ledger ecosystem by integrating Ethereum smart contract capabilities. This development enables the creation and migration of decentralized applications (dApps) that leverage the strengths of both Ethereum and XRP networks. The sidechain, introduced by Ripple’s blockchain infrastructure, facilitates seamless cross-chain interoperability, allowing developers to build Ethereum-compatible dApps within the XRP environment.

Designed to capitalize on the low transaction costs and high throughput of the XRP Ledger, the sidechain incorporates Ethereum’s smart contract functionality to support complex financial instruments such as lending protocols, asset tokenization, and payment solutions. This hybrid approach enhances scalability, security, and operational efficiency, positioning the XRPL EVM sidechain as a robust platform for next-generation decentralized finance (DeFi) applications.

The project is a collaborative effort between Ripple, Peersyst, and Axelar, leveraging Evmos’ software framework to ensure full EVM compatibility. Unlike previous attempts that offered limited smart contract support, this sidechain connects exclusively to the XRPL mainnet via Axelar’s cross-chain bridge, enabling wrapped XRP tokens to act as native fuel. This architecture underscores a strategic move towards greater interoperability and functionality within the XRP ecosystem.

The XRPL EVM Sidechain has officially launched on the mainnet, marking a significant milestone for the XRP Ledger ecosystem. This new sidechain enables developers to execute Ethereum-based smart contracts on the XRP Ledger, expanding its capabilities and attracting more developers to the platform. The integration with Wormhole, a leading cross-chain infrastructure protocol, allows for seamless interoperability between the XRP Ledger and other blockchain ecosystems, facilitating asset issuance and cross-chain transactions.

The XRPL EVM Sidechain is connected to the XRP Ledger via an Axelar bridge, a leading bridge protocol that supports over 80 blockchains. This connection allows for the bridging of the native gas asset XRP into the sidechain, enhancing its functionality and utility. Additionally, the sidechain is integrated with Squid, the official cross-chain transfer UI app for the XRP Ledger and the EVM sidechain, further elevating its multichain capabilities.

The launch of the XRPL EVM Sidechain is a result of a collaborative effort between Ripple, Peersyst, Axelar, and prominent players in the Cosmos community. The sidechain offers several key features, including access to the vast XRPL ecosystem with over 6 million wallet holders, scalability and performance with faster block times and low transaction costs, and a robust validator network with over 25 companies running validators. The sidechain also maintains a strong focus on regulatory compliance, providing developers with peace of mind when building and deploying smart contracts.

The XRPL EVM Sidechain eliminates the traditional tradeoff between EVM compatibility and the unique advantages of the XRP Ledger. Developers can now build, port, and deploy cross-chain and EVM-only dApps while tapping into the XRP Ledger's deep liquidity and operational stability. This opens the door to entirely new classes of decentralized apps, spanning lending, tokenization, payments, and beyond, on infrastructure optimized for speed, security, and scale.

The launch of the XRPL EVM Sidechain is expected to unlock new utility for XRP and accelerate developer momentum on the platform. Several projects across DeFi have already built novel, cross-chain apps, allowing XRPL users to interact with their protocols directly from the mainnet without needing a new, EVM sidechain wallet. These projects include Band Protocol, Grove, Axelar, Squid, Strobe, Securd, Vertex, Blockscout, and Goldsky, among others.

Developers can begin building on the XRPL EVM Sidechain today using Grove’s public endpoint and tools, with full documentation available online. The launch of the XRPL EVM Sidechain marks a major expansion of what’s possible with XRP, bringing general-purpose programmability to one of the most established and secure networks in crypto. This launch is just the beginning of a much bigger journey toward interoperability, programmability, and utility at scale for the XRP Ledger ecosystem.