Ripple has officially launched the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)-compatible sidechain on the XRP Ledger, marking a significant milestone in blockchain interoperability. Developed in collaboration with Peersyst, the XRPL EVM sidechain allows XRP tokens to interact directly with Ethereum-based decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts, using XRP itself as the gas currency for transactions.
This integration positions XRP within the central infrastructure of Ethereum’s decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem, combining Ethereum’s application-rich environment with XRP’s advantages in speed and lower costs. The sidechain offers Ethereum developers benefits including reduced transaction fees and faster processing times, making it particularly suited for projects requiring high-volume or speed-sensitive operations.
Ferran Prat of Peersyst emphasized the importance of this step, noting that the XRPL EVM deployment represents just the beginning of Ripple’s larger vision for multichain integration and expanded programmability and utility.
Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer, David Schwartz, who played a pivotal role in creating the XRP Ledger, underscored that the new feature provides developers with a robust environment to build dApps capable of leveraging the strengths of both Ethereum and XRP frameworks simultaneously. Schwartz indicated that the move enhances XRP Ledger’s capabilities significantly, without undermining the reliability or performance that defines XRPL itself.
An essential component facilitating cross-chain transactions is the Axelar bridge, which directly connects the XRPL EVM sidechain to the XRP Ledger mainnet. This infrastructure ensures seamless interoperability across platforms—a capability Ripple expects will attract increased attention from institutional and enterprise users.
Axelar Foundation’s Georgios Vlachos pointed out that the crypto industry is moving into a compelling new phase, with institutional and enterprise adoption rising quickly. The introduction of XRPL EVM sidechain infrastructure complements this trend, and Axelar provides the secure and institutional-grade solutions necessary for enabling this connectivity between XRP and Ethereum dApps.
Overall, Ripple’s latest initiative significantly broadens XRP’s potential applications, creating new opportunities for cross-blockchain functionality and paving the way for wider adoption across diverse ecosystems.
