TL;DR
- Ripple expands RLUSD to multiple L2s via Wormhole in 2026.
- Targets 24/7 trading liquidity across regulated, high-utility chains.
- Holds $1B+ supply and new $500M funding round.
Ripple says RLUSD will extend beyond XRP Ledger and Ethereum and reach multiple Layer 2 networks in 2026, with Wormhole providing cross-chain tooling. Ripple frames the plan around demand for stablecoin liquidity across more than one chain, especially in venues where onchain trading and settlement run at all hours.
Ripple connects the rollout to Wormhole Native Token Transfers (NTT), a token standard Ripple uses to test RLUSD on Optimism, Base, Ink, and Unichain. Ripple says regulatory clearance sits on the critical path for a public launch on additional networks.
RLUSD went live in December on XRPL and Ethereum. Market trackers place total supply above $1 billion, keeping RLUSD among larger stablecoins issued by a U.S.-linked crypto firm.
Compliance push meets distribution across more chains
Ripple positions RLUSD as a stablecoin built for compliance-first issuance, then pairs the claim with broader distribution. Jack McDonald, Ripple’s SVP for stablecoins, describes RLUSD as a regulated trust-style product in the U.S. and links expansion to higher utility for trading, payments, and onchain finance. Ripple also presents stablecoins as the main entry point for DeFi and for institutional crypto flows, with RLUSD serving as a liquid on-ramp.
Wormhole already sits inside Ripple’s interoperability work. In June, Ripple expanded XRPL multichain connectivity through a Wormhole integration, aiming to connect XRPL rails with other chains and apps without forcing users to rely on a single network for settlement.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued a conditional approval for a national trust bank charter tied to Ripple National Trust Bank. Ripple says final approval would place RLUSD under state oversight and federal oversight at the same time, a structure Ripple portrays as uncommon among stablecoins.
Ripple also enters 2026 planning with fresh capital
In November, Ripple raised $500 million at a $40 billion valuation. Investors linked to Fortress and affiliates of Citadel Securities led the round, with participation from Galaxy Digital, Pantera, Brevan Howard, and Marshall Wace.
Ripple now ties product distribution, compliance posture, and balance-sheet strength to one near-term goal: broaden RLUSD availability across major Layer 2 venues while keeping issuance controls intact across chains.
