The XRPL EVM Sidechain goes live on the mainnet. Developers can now deploy Ethereum-compatible decentralized applications with the native gas token being XRP, following years of development work from Ripple, Peersyst, and the XRPL community.
The new sidechain remains fully interoperable with Ethereum development tools like Solidity, MetaMask, and Hardhat.
Developers can host cross-chain and EVM-exclusive applications with the benefits of XRPL’s liquidity and uptime. The combination allows for an effortless development process with high-speed and low-cost transactions.
Built for speed and scale, the EVM Sidechain uses a Proof of Authority mechanism. It supports 1,000 transactions per second with faster block times than Ethereum’s average of 14 seconds.
XRP serves as the native asset, offering reduced gas fees and opening the door to high-volume use cases.
Squid simplifies XRPL to EVM sidechain transfers
The sidechain is linked to the main XRP Ledger through Axelar, a cross-chain protocol connected to over 80 blockchains. Axelar also brings XRP into the EVM environment, enabling movement between chains.
Alongside Axelar, Squid acts as the official UI app for cross-chain transfers, simplifying navigation between XRPL and the EVM Sidechain.
Compliance and security are key features. With XRPL’s long-standing regulatory focus, developers can safely operate apps involving regulated assets. The validator network includes more than 25 companies worldwide, adding strength and resilience to the sidechain.
This upgrade allows developers to access over 6 million XRPL wallet holders. It enables Ethereum-style apps to reach a broader market without requiring a new ecosystem.
The XRPL EVM Sidechain is also preparing to integrate Wormhole, further extending interoperability across 35+ blockchain networks.
DeFi and Infra projects already building
Multiple partners are already building on the sidechain. Band Protocol delivers price feeds for DeFi apps. Grove offers RPC infrastructure through Pocket Network.
Blockscout provides a block explorer for tracking EVM activity, while Goldsky supports data indexing through subgraphs.
Several DeFi protocols are preparing to launch. Strobe is building a lending and borrowing market. Securd focuses on passive income through collateralized lending.
Vertex will offer derivatives trading with improved capital efficiency. These applications aim to make full use of the sidechain’s speed and XRP-based gas model.
The XRPL EVM Sidechain release positions XRP at the center of the multichain future. Through support from key partners and a strong base of developers, it’s an important move for the ecosystem and expands XRPL’s presence in the overall Web3 space.
