Ripple’s XRP Makes Strategic Leap Into Solana’s Ecosystem via Hex Trust & LayerZero Integration

XRP just crashed a new party.

The Ripple-affiliated digital asset, long dominant in cross-border payments, is making a surprise expansion into one of crypto's most vibrant developer playgrounds. Through a dual-pronged integration with institutional custodian Hex Trust and interoperability protocol LayerZero, XRP is now accessible within the Solana ecosystem.

Breaking Down the Bridge

This isn't a simple listing. Hex Trust's move brings XRP into its regulated, institutional-grade custody framework for Solana-based applications. Simultaneously, LayerZero's omnichain interoperability protocol acts as the connective tissue, enabling XRP to move and be utilized across the Solana network. It's infrastructure-first growth—building the pipes before promising the flood.

Why Solana, Why Now?

The play is clear: tap into raw momentum. Solana's ecosystem thrives on high-speed, low-cost transactions and a fervent developer base building everything from DeFi to decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN). For XRP, it's a chance to be more than a settlement asset—it's becoming a usable tool within a sprawling, innovative economy. For Solana, it's about absorbing liquidity and credibility from an established, battle-tested token. Think of it as a corporate alliance, but with smart contracts.

The Institutional Angle

Hex Trust's involvement is the silent signal. Their compliance-first approach means this bridge is built for more than just retail degens. It's a runway for institutional capital and regulated products to eventually flow between the XRP and Solana ledgers. Because in traditional finance, the first question isn't 'what's the APY?'—it's 'who's holding the keys?'

A New Cross-Chain Reality

This move further blurs the lines in the so-called 'chain wars.' Assets are no longer prisoners of their native networks. XRP's foray into Solana is a testament to a growing trend: blockchains are competing less as isolated fortresses and more as interconnected districts in a sprawling crypto metropolis. The value accrues to the assets and applications that can move freely between them.

The bottom line? XRP is hunting for utility beyond the courtroom headlines, and Solana's builder ecosystem is a prime target. It's a pragmatic, if not slightly cynical, land grab for relevance—because in this market, you're either expanding your use case or you're just another line on a speculative balance sheet.

Hex Trust said on Thursday it will begin issuing and custodying wrapped XRP, a token designed to let XRP MOVE across several blockchains while remaining backed 1:1 by the original asset.

The Hong Kong–based digital asset custodian said the new token, called wXRP, will allow XRP to be used in decentralised finance applications on chains such as Ethereum, Solana, Optimism and HyperEVM. The initiative is all set to make XRP more accessible outside its native ledger and give users a regulated way to move the asset across networks.

More XRP ecosystems is a good thing. Letting XRP operate in more environments builds utility, and the XRPL remains the anchor that makes it all work. https://t.co/szCfaj3KcL

Ripple’s chief technology officer, David Schwartz, welcomed the development, saying on social media that expanding XRP into more ecosystems “builds utility” while the XRP Ledger remains the “anchor” behind it.

XRP Coming To Solana?

Solana said XRP has remained one of the most trusted and liquid cryptocurrencies. Now, XRP’s long-standing utility will run on Solana’s fast network.

From day one, users will get strong liquidity. This allows traders, holders, and institutions to use XRP across solana DEXs, lending markets, and liquidity pools, while still keeping full exposure to the original XRP and redeeming it anytime on the XRP Ledger.

Solana also said that Hex Trust and LayerZero Core will bridge and issue, a Solana-based token that can always be redeemed 1:1 for XRP.

Launch Backed by $100 Million in Locked Value

Hex Trust said wXRP will launch with more than $100 million in total value locked, providing liquidity from the first day of trading. The asset will be issued only when an equivalent amount of native XRP is deposited in custody and will be burned when redeemed, ensuring a 1:1 ratio.

The company said authorised merchants will be able to mint and redeem the token through an automated and compliant process. Users will also be able to access DeFi features when supported, such as liquidity pools and rewards.

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Cross-Chain Trading With RLUSD

wXRP will also be tradeable with Ripple’s stablecoin RLUSD on ethereum and other networks where RLUSD operates. RippleX senior vice president Markus Infanger said demand has grown for ways to use XRP across multiple ecosystems, and the wrapped asset fits with the company’s efforts to expand regulated access to DeFi.

Custody and Compliance

Hex Trust said the underlying XRP will be held in regulated, segregated custody accounts that follow KYC and AML requirements. The wrapped token uses LayerZero’s OFT standard to allow transfers between chains.

The company said the design is aimed at institutions, DeFi projects and retail users who want to use XRP in cross-chain applications without relying on unregulated bridges, which have been frequent targets of hacks.

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FAQs

Wrapped XRP (wXRP) is a token that represents XRP on other blockchains like Ethereum or Solana, allowing it to be used in DeFi applications while being securely backed 1:1 by the original XRP.

wXRP works on multiple blockchains (e.g., Ethereum, Solana) for DeFi use, while regular XRP operates primarily on its own native XRP Ledger. Each wXRP is fully backed by real XRP in regulated custody.

Yes, wXRP is issued by a regulated custodian with secure, segregated holdings. It uses a compliant 1:1 backing model, reducing risks common with unregulated cross-chain bridges.

You can use wXRP in decentralized finance (DeFi) across chains for trading, liquidity pools, and earning rewards, including trading against Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin on supported networks.

Authorized merchants can mint wXRP by depositing an equivalent amount of XRP into regulated custody; the process is automated and ensures a secure 1:1 conversion for users.