30.06.2025 21:22
Ripple, the cross-border payments firm, has launched a groundbreaking Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatible sidechain on the XRP Ledger's mainnet. This significant development allows developers to seamlessly integrate Ethereum-based smart contracts and decentralized applications (dapps) into the XRP ecosystem, opening up exciting new possibilities.
This new sidechain, a parallel blockchain operating alongside the main XRP Ledger, effectively merges the best of both worlds. It leverages the XRP Ledger's renowned low transaction fees and rapid settlement times while simultaneously enabling the deployment of Ethereum's sophisticated smart contract functionality. This innovative combination paves the way for a new generation of decentralized applications, including advanced lending platforms, tokenization initiatives, and streamlined payment systems, all prioritizing compliance, speed, and cost-effectiveness.
The development is the result of a collaborative effort between Ripple, Peersyst, and the broader XRPL community. Connecting the sidechain to the XRP Ledger is an Axelar bridge, a crucial component linking it to a vast network encompassing over eighty different blockchains. XRP, the native token of the XRPL, will function as the gas token for this new sidechain, further integrating the two ecosystems.
David Schwartz, Ripple's CTO and co-creator of the XRP Ledger, emphasized the sidechain's versatility. He highlighted its ability to provide developers with a flexible platform for deploying EVM-based applications while preserving the XRP Ledger's inherent efficiency and reliability. This expansion of capabilities, he noted, occurs without compromising the core features that have made the XRPL a trusted and robust network. The sidechain's launch represents a transformative moment, providing access to over six million XRPL wallet holders, boasting significantly faster block times than Ethereum, and offering drastically reduced transaction costs. This marks a pivotal moment, ushering in a new era for the XRP ecosystem. Information regarding the launch was sourced from internet resources.