Ripple CTO Confirms Q2 Launch of XRPL’s EVM-Compatible Sidechain

At the Apex 2025 event, Ripple’s chief technology officer, David Schwartz, confirmed that the XRP Ledger’s (XRPL) long-anticipated Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)-compatible sidechain will officially launch in the second quarter of 2025. This development marks a significant milestone in Ripple’s strategy to boost functionality and developer engagement within the XRPL ecosystem.

Ripple aims to attract Ethereum developers by enabling Ethereum-based decentralized applications (dApps) to run on the XRPL through the new sidechain. By supporting EVM compatibility, Ripple is creating a bridge between XRPL and Ethereum’s expansive DeFi ecosystem. As a result, developers can deploy dApps on XRPL without needing to rewrite them for XRPL’s native environment.

Growing Developer Community Supports the Project

The sidechain, still in its testnet phase, has already generated significant interest among developers. So far, 87 new contributors have joined the project, creating a wide range of apps and tools to prepare for the mainnet integration. Ripple launched testnet operations on the devnet in October 2024, and testing has continued to gather momentum ever since.

To ensure smooth interoperability, the sidechain will connect to the XRPL mainnet using Axelar’s cross-chain communication infrastructure. Wrapped XRP will serve as the native gas token for transactions on the sidechain, allowing users to benefit from XRP’s speed and efficiency while accessing Ethereum-compatible dApps.

XRPL’s Continued Expansion and Use Case Focus

The XRP Ledger continues to demonstrate strong growth. To date, it has processed over 3.3 billion transactions and supports more than 6 million active wallets. Schwartz emphasized that XRPL was designed with practical applications in mind. “It wasn’t trying to do everything, but it was focused on real-world financial use cases,” he stated.

With the upcoming EVM sidechain launch, Ripple plans to significantly broaden XRPL’s utility and relevance in the broader blockchain space. By facilitating Ethereum dApp compatibility and streamlining access to DeFi applications, Ripple reinforces its commitment to practical, scalable blockchain solutions aimed at real-world financial ecosystems.

Disclaimer: The information in this article should not be considered financial advice, and FXCryptoNews articles are intended only to provide educational and general information. Please consult with a financial advisor before making any investment decisions.