XRP Ledger Goes Multichain: EVM-Compatible Sidechain Unleashes New Utility
The XRP Ledger just leveled up—big time. By deploying an EVM-compatible sidechain, Ripple's ecosystem now bridges the gap between its native efficiency and Ethereum's sprawling DeFi playground.
Why this matters: Developers get the best of both worlds. XRPL's speed meets Ethereum's smart contract dominance without the gas fee roulette wheel.
The cynical take: Wall Street still won't care—until they can charge 2% management fees on wrapped XRP ETFs.
Game on. The multichain future isn't coming; it's already here.
A Technical Collaboration to Enhance Interoperability
The sidechain was built through a joint effort by Ripple, blockchain infrastructure firm Peersyst, and cross-chain protocol Axelar. Based on Evmos’ software framework, the XRPL EVM operates as a parallel blockchain — connected to the XRP Ledger mainnet through Axelar’s bridging system. Wrapped XRP serves as the gas token for the network, enabling seamless transfers between the XRPL and EVM environments.
Ripple CTO and XRPL co-creator David Schwartz highlighted the strategic advantage of this architecture, saying the integration allows developers to explore programmable smart contracts while preserving the speed and reliability of the Core XRP Ledger.
Peersyst: “Day 1 of a Bigger Journey”
Peersyst founder and CEO Ferran Prat described the launch as a transformative step for XRP. “This is the beginning of a larger path toward multichain interoperability and scalable utility,” he said. Prat emphasized that the new sidechain positions XRP to operate more freely across the broader Web3 ecosystem.
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Axelar’s co-founder Georgios Vlachos also weighed in, stating that institutional and enterprise interest in blockchain is accelerating. He noted that the XRPL EVM Sidechain, supported by Axelar’s secure infrastructure, is well-placed to capture this momentum.
Early Adoption and Ecosystem Support
According toshared with The Block, several projects have already committed to building on the new sidechain, including DeFi protocols like Band Protocol, Grove, and Squid. Additional integrations from platforms like Strobe, Securd, and Vertex are expected soon. Tooling support is being provided by Blockscout and Goldsky, and the ecosystem is preparing to integrate Wormhole — a cross-chain protocol that links over 200 applications across 35+ blockchains.
With the mainnet launch now complete, the XRPL EVM Sidechain signals a new chapter for XRP — one focused on interoperability, programmability, and multi-chain scalability.
