Ripple (XRP) Ledger’s Ethereum-Compatible Sidechain All Set to Launch in Q2
Crypto company Ripple is bringing Ethereum-style smart contracts to the XRP Ledger. A new sidechain, compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), would soon be live in the 2nd quarter of 2025. Ripple (XRPL) Sidechain to Go Live Soon! Ripple CTO David Schwartz confirmed the news at the Apex 2025 event in Singapore. Core developer Peersyst also supported the timeline. The EVM sidechain is currently live on testnet. Once final testing and validator partnerships are complete, it will move to mainnet. The launch is expected before the end of Q2. This sidechain runs in parallel to the XRP Ledger. It combines XRPL’s speed and low transaction fees with Ethereum’s smart contract tools. It’s being developed by Ripple and Peersyst using the evmOS software stack. The new chain will connect to the XRP Ledger through a bridge. Axelar will serve as the exclusive bridge provider. Wrapped XRP will be the native gas token on the EVM chain. This upgrade could revolutionize how developers interact with the XRP Ledger. With EVM compatibility, they’ll be able to write and deploy smart contracts via Solidity, the same language used on Ethereum. That means new applications like DeFi protocols and NFT platforms can be built directly on the XRPL ecosystem. So far, XRP Ledger supported native smart contracts but not the Ethereum standard. Flare Network has provided EVM support through its own platform, but Ripple’s sidechain brings that capability directly to XRPL. As competition intensifies among Layer 1 blockchains, Ripple’s move may help XRP Ledger differentiate itself. It gives developers access to Ethereum tools while maintaining the speed and cost XRPL is known for. This news comes shortly after another milestone. The prior day, Zeconomy launched its Digital Commercial Paper (DCP) project on the XRP Ledger. This marked the first issuance of a native digital commercial paper on XRPL. The integration opens new possibilities for institutions utilizing XRPL for treasury and cross-border transactions. Meanwhile, XRP is trading at $2.29, reflecting a modest 0.38% gain in the last 24 hours. The 24-hour trading volume stands at $2.58 billion, pushing the market cap of XRP to $134.99 billion. The uptrend in market trends indicates growing trust in the Ripple community, thanks to these recent advancements. Also Read: Ripple Doubles Down on APAC with $5 Million Blockchain Investment
