Ripple is preparing to take a major step in expanding the XRP Ledger’s capabilities, with its Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)-compatible sidechain scheduled to go live in Q2 2025. This development was confirmed by Ripple CTO David Schwartz and Ripple’s director of product management, Jaazi Cooper, at the APEX 2025 conference in Singapore.
The sidechain is designed to merge XRP Ledger’s fast, low-cost transactions with Ethereum’s smart contract capabilities. It’s built using the evmOS stack and currently runs on testnet.
The EVM compatibility is a game-changer for XRP Ledger (XRPL). It enables the network to seamlessly support Ethereum-based smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps), significantly broadening XRPL’s developer base. This positions XRP Ledger to attract projects and developers from Ethereum’s vast ecosystem, effectively bridging the gap between the two chains.
The XRPL EVM sidechain testnet, which went live earlier this year, is already showing strong signs of momentum. According to Peersyst Technologies, the infrastructure partner behind the project, the testnet has attracted 87 new contributors, all previously unaffiliated with XRP, who are now actively building infrastructure, applications, and driving adoption.
Peersyst described the upcoming mainnet launch as possibly “the biggest onboarding in XRP history,” suggesting this could mark a major milestone in expanding the utility and reach of the XRPL ecosystem.
Once it goes live, the new EVM sidechain will make the XRP Ledger much more useful. It will let developers build apps like DeFi projects and NFT platforms, just like they do on Ethereum. Plus, they’ll be able to use Solidity, Ethereum’s most popular programming language.
As more Layer 1 blockchains compete, Ripple’s move to support Ethereum-based tools, while keeping XRP Ledger’s fast speed and low costs, could help it stand out again in the growing blockchain world. With the full launch expected by the end of Q2, the crypto community is watching closely. If successful, this sidechain could bring in a new era for XRP, one that extends far beyond remittances.
Ripple’s EVM sidechain brings Ethereum smart contract support to XRPL, enabling DeFi, NFTs, and dApps with Solidity.
It merges XRPL’s fast, low-cost transactions with Ethereum’s smart contract capabilities, attracting new projects and boosting utility.
Yes, increased utility from smart contracts and dApps may boost XRP demand and market value post-launch.
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