The XRPL EVM sidechain has officially launched on the mainnet, marking a significant expansion of the XRP Ledger ecosystem’s capabilities. This development enables Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatibility, allowing developers to deploy Ethereum-style smart contracts and decentralized applications directly within the XRP Ledger environment.
The sidechain integrates Ethereum’s smart contract protocols, asset tokenization tools, and payment solutions to facilitate cross-chain interoperability. It was developed through a collaboration between Ripple, blockchain technology firm Peersyst, and cross-chain infrastructure provider Axelar. The project utilizes Evmos’ software framework to ensure full EVM compatibility.
A key feature of the implementation is its exclusive connection to the XRPL mainnet via Axelar’s cross-chain bridge. Wrapped XRP (wXRP) tokens serve as the native fuel for transactions and operations within the EVM sidechain, maintaining the ecosystem’s economic alignment while enabling seamless asset transfers.
This integration allows developers to build Ethereum-compatible decentralized applications on the XRP Ledger, significantly broadening the network’s utility for DeFi, tokenization, and cross-chain financial solutions without requiring fundamental changes to the XRPL’s core protocol.