XRP Ledger Launches EVM-Compatible Sidechain, Opening Floodgates for Ethereum Dapps

The XRP Ledger (XRPL) has reached a major technological milestone with the official launch of its long-anticipated Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) sidechain on mainnet. Ripple, the firm behind XRPL, announced the deployment on June 30, marking a new chapter in the network’s evolution toward broader interoperability and smart contract functionality.

Developed in collaboration with Peersyst and other XRPL community contributors, the new EVM sidechain allows Ethereum-based decentralized applications (dapps) to run within the XRP ecosystem. This includes seamless support for lending platforms, tokenization protocols, and payment applications, all benefiting from XRPL's low-cost, high-speed transaction infrastructure.

"The XRPL EVM Sidechain introduces a flexible environment for developers to deploy EVM-based applications, while maintaining a connection to the XRPL’s efficiency," said Ripple CTO David Schwartz. "It extends the capabilities of the ecosystem without changing the fundamentals that make the XRPL reliable."

This sidechain connects to the XRPL mainnet through an Axelar bridge, providing interoperability with over 80 other blockchains. XRP, the native token of the XRPL, will serve as the gas token for the EVM sidechain, embedding utility directly into the network's smart contract layer.

Peersyst CEO Ferran Prat heralded the launch as a foundational moment for XRP's future: "With the launch of XRPL EVM, we’re unlocking a new era for XRP — one where it can flow seamlessly across the multichain world. This isn’t the finish line; it’s Day 1 of a much bigger journey."

The sidechain already features strategic integrations: Band Protocol provides oracle services, Grove offers public RPC endpoints, and upcoming DeFi applications from Strobe, Securd, and Vertex are expected to go live soon. Wormhole, a cross-chain messaging protocol used by over 200 applications, is also planning integration.

With over 6 million XRPL wallet holders and a validator network comprising more than 25 firms, the XRPL EVM sidechain stands out as a powerful bridge between enterprise-grade blockchain solutions and the expansive Ethereum ecosystem. The initiative further aligns with Ripple's broader push into institutional-grade tokenization, as demonstrated by its recent partnership with Ctrl Alt to tokenize real estate assets in Dubai.

This development not only strengthens XRPL's competitive positioning among smart contract platforms but also reaffirms its ambition to become a central hub for regulated, scalable blockchain infrastructure.