TL;DR
- XRPL launched its EVM Sidechain, a parallel network that enables the deployment of Ethereum smart contracts and cross-chain DeFi operations using XRP as gas.
- The sidechain connects to over 80 blockchains via Axelar and will soon integrate with Wormhole.
- DeFi projects like Strobe, Securd, and Vertex are already preparing to launch on the network.
The XRPL ecosystem added a new tool with the official launch of its EVM Sidechain, a parallel network designed to run Ethereum-compatible smart contracts and simplify cross-chain DeFi operations.
The project was developed in collaboration with Peersyst and connects to more than 80 blockchains through the Axelar bridge. It allows the use of XRP as the native gas token for all transactions carried out within the sidechain.
From now on, developers can deploy decentralized applications using Ethereum-native tools like Solidity, MetaMask, and Hardhat, while gaining direct access to XRPL’s liquidity and infrastructure.
The new sidechain offers faster block times than Ethereum, lower fees, and an operational capacity exceeding 1,000 transactions per second, thanks to its Proof of Authority consensus. This environment combines XRPL’s historical security and efficiency with the flexibility of the Ethereum Virtual Machine.
The network is also integrated with Squid, the official cross-chain transfer app, enabling seamless asset transfers between XRPL, the sidechain, and other connected blockchains. Wormhole, one of the most widely used interoperability protocols in the market, will soon join the ecosystem, further extending XRPL’s multichain reach.
XRPL Confirms Several Strategic Alliances
In parallel, XRPL confirmed strategic partnerships with infrastructure projects and oracle services like Band Protocol and Grove, alongside DeFi applications already preparing to join the network. Among them are Strobe, an overcollateralized lending protocol; Securd, a platform offering passive income products through leveraged positions; and Vertex, a derivatives trading platform focused on capital efficiency.
With this sidechain, XRPL overcomes the long-standing limitation that prevented the deployment of smart contracts within its network, without losing the operational and regulatory advantages that define it. Access to over 6 million active wallets and a stable capitalization of tokenized assets makes this sidechain an attractive option for protocols seeking institutional liquidity and fast, low-cost transactions.
Official documentation and public endpoints are now available for developers to start building compatible applications, marking the start of a new phase of interoperability and expansion for XRP.
