Ripple Eyes XRPL Overhaul: Rust Rewrite Targets Modular Future

Ripple's engineers might just be trading their hard hats for Rust-colored goggles. The blockchain giant is reportedly weighing a full-scale rewrite of its XRP Ledger (XRPL) core in Rust—a move that could future-proof the protocol for a modular era.

Why Rust? Speed, safety, and sanity.

The systems programming language has become crypto's golden child, offering memory safety without sacrificing performance. For XRPL—a chain that's processed over 2.5 billion transactions—that means fewer attack vectors and happier validators.

Modular ambitions meet legacy code.

This isn't just a facelift. The rewrite would position XRPL for a rollup-friendly future, where execution layers split from consensus like overpriced NFT projects from their utility. (Too soon?)

Devs brace for turbulence.

Major protocol changes always risk community forks—just ask Ethereum Classic. But with competitors like Solana and Cardano pushing performance limits, Ripple's playing the long game. After all, in crypto, you either Rust or you rust.

Why Is Ripple Considering a Rewrite?

Right now, XRPL runs on a codebase written in C++, a language that has served well over the years but is showing its age. The ledger’s current structure is monolithic, meaning all parts—from the consensus engine to transaction handling—are tightly connected. This makes it hard to upgrade, fix bugs, or test new features.

Schwartz and the development team believe a modular system would be better. That means breaking up the code into smaller, manageable parts, each with its own function. In software development, modular design makes updates easier, improves testing, and boosts overall system flexibility.

Why Rust?

Rust is gaining popularity in the blockchain world because it’s:

• Safe: Rust prevents many common bugs found in C++.

• Fast: It runs close to the hardware speed, which is ideal for blockchain.

• Modern: Rust supports clean, modular code that’s easier to maintain.

Schwartz even admitted, “If I had to start XRPL from scratch today, I’d do it in Rust.”

What Will Change for XRP Holders?

Nothing, really.

Ripple’s team was clear: even if the XRPL is rewritten in Rust or parts of it are modularized into separate engines (like VIRTUAL machines), the on-chain data and user experience won’t be affected. You won’t lose any XRP, and your apps or wallets will keep working the same.

Mayukha Vadari, a senior developer at RippleX, explained:

“If rippled was rewritten in Rust… it wouldn’t do anything to the on-chain data. Everything about using and building on the XRPL would stay the same.”

What’s the Plan?

Instead of jumping into a full rewrite, Schwartz supports a step-by-step approach:

Some of these proposals even come from third-party developers, which shows growing community involvement in XRPL’s future.

Developer Community Feedback

The conversation has also sparked a broader discussion about standardization in XRPL’s development. Some developers, like @xrp_hodl_r, pointed out inconsistent naming formats in APIs and suggested standard rules to reduce confusion and maintenance costs.

Vadari responded by emphasizing that backward compatibility remains key. Changing names or formats without breaking existing apps is a challenge. API versioning, she noted, is already in place to manage these upgrades without causing disruptions.

Challenges Ahead

While the idea of a Rust-based, modular XRPL is exciting, Schwartz admits it’s not an easy task. “It’s just not easy at all,” he said. “But it would be a win all around.”

So far, no final decisions have been made, but what’s clear is that Ripple is seriously exploring the future of XRPL with a modern mindset.

Final Thoughts

The XRPL has been running strong for over a decade, but technology never stands still. A modular redesign in Rust could bring better performance, faster upgrades, and safer code to the XRP Ledger—all without disrupting users or applications.

As of now, it’s just a discussion, but with leaders like David Schwartz pushing for innovation, XRPL may soon enter a new era of speed, safety, and developer-friendly design.