The blockchain landscape is evolving rapidly, and crosschain interoperability has become a cornerstone for scalable, user-friendly decentralized ecosystems. At EthCC, a major milestone was announced: Axelar has launched full crosschain connectivity for the newly introduced XRPL EVM Sidechain, linking it with over 80 blockchains from day one. This breakthrough expands the utility of the XRP Ledger (XRPL) ecosystem, unlocking powerful new opportunities in decentralized finance (DeFi) and real-world asset (RWA) tokenization.
Backed by collaboration between the Axelar Foundation, Ripple, Peersyst, and key players in the XRPL community, this integration positions the XRPL EVM Sidechain as a high-performance, EVM-compatible environment that inherits the speed, security, and regulatory compliance of the parent XRP Ledger.
Seamless Crosschain Infrastructure from Day One
Axelar serves as the first crosschain connector for the XRPL EVM Sidechain, enabling seamless asset transfers across chains. Notably, wrapped XRP will function as the native gas token on the sidechain, ensuring economic alignment with the broader XRPL ecosystem while maintaining low transaction costs and fast finality.
This instant interoperability is powered by Axelar’s decentralized network—a robust interoperability protocol trusted across Web3. Developers can now build or port EVM-native applications directly onto the XRPL EVM Sidechain without sacrificing security or decentralization.
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The user experience is further enhanced through integration with Squid, a crosschain transfer UI that allows users to move assets between XRPL mainnet and the EVM sidechain effortlessly—without needing separate wallets or complex bridging processes.
Empowering Developers with XRPL’s Unique Advantages
The XRPL EVM Sidechain combines the flexibility of Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) tooling with the institutional-grade infrastructure of the XRP Ledger. For developers, this means immediate access to:
- Over 6 million existing XRPL wallet holders
- Sub-second block times and near-zero transaction fees
- Native support for XRP as gas (via wrapping)
- A battle-tested validator network with over a decade of uptime
- Strong emphasis on regulatory compliance and enterprise adoption
These features make the XRPL EVM Sidechain particularly attractive for institutions exploring blockchain-based financial products, including stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets.
Key Application Partners Driving Innovation
A growing ecosystem of DeFi projects is already building on the XRPL EVM Sidechain, leveraging its crosschain capabilities and institutional focus:
- Strobe: A money market protocol enabling lending and overcollateralized borrowing within the XRPL ecosystem.
- Securd: A secure lending platform designed to generate passive income by financing leveraged DeFi positions.
- Vertex: A capital-efficient derivatives trading platform optimized for performance and scalability.
These protocols illustrate how developers can create sophisticated financial applications while remaining deeply integrated with XRPL’s core infrastructure.
Developer Tooling and Data Infrastructure
Robust tooling is essential for sustainable growth. The XRPL EVM Sidechain integrates with leading blockchain development platforms:
- Blockscout: Provides a fully functional EVM block explorer for transparency and monitoring.
- Goldsky: Offers high-performance data indexing through easy-to-use subgraphs, empowering dApps with real-time analytics.
With comprehensive documentation and familiar tooling, developers can onboard quickly and begin deploying dApps with minimal friction.
Institutional-Grade Foundation for Real-World Assets
One of XRPL’s defining strengths lies in its proven track record for tokenizing real-world assets (RWAs) and stablecoins. Financial institutions have long trusted XRPL for its reliability, low cost, and compliance-first design. Now, with the EVM sidechain live and connected via Axelar, these institutions can deploy EVM-compatible dApps while tapping into XRPL’s deep liquidity pools and established user base.
This hybrid model allows traditional finance players to enter Web3 without compromising on regulatory standards or operational efficiency.
“The XRPL EVM Sidechain introduces a new option for developers who want to build with EVM-compatible tools while leveraging XRP and the broader XRPL ecosystem,” said David Schwartz, CTO at Ripple and co-creator of the XRP Ledger. “Axelar’s crosschain infrastructure helps make that possible, supporting greater interoperability without changing the fundamentals of the XRP Ledger itself.”
Georgios Vlachos, director at Axelar Foundation and co-founder of the Axelar protocol, added: “We are seeing tremendous interest in interoperability from institutions that are already on a path to bringing dollar stablecoins into a new financial ecosystem that is global and blockchain-based. XRPL’s institutional-grade infrastructure provides an ideal starting point for this wave of new, dollarized financial products to reach the world.”
👉 Explore how blockchain interoperability is reshaping institutional finance.
Getting Started for Builders and Users
For developers ready to build on this next-generation infrastructure:
- XRPL EVM Documentation: docs.xrplevm.org
- Axelar Developer Docs: docs.axelar.dev
Users can interact with the ecosystem through Squid, the designated crosschain transfer interface, enabling smooth movement of assets between XRPL mainnet and the EVM sidechain.
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
Q: What is the XRPL EVM Sidechain?
A: It's an Ethereum Virtual Machine-compatible sidechain connected to the XRP Ledger via Axelar. It enables developers to build EVM-based dApps while benefiting from XRPL’s speed, low fees, and regulatory compliance.
Q: Why is crosschain connectivity important?
A: Crosschain interoperability allows assets and data to move freely across blockchains. With Axelar, the XRPL EVM Sidechain can interact with over 80 chains, expanding DeFi, RWA, and institutional use cases.
Q: Can I use my existing XRPL wallet?
A: Yes—thanks to Squid’s crosschain UI, users can interact with both XRPL mainnet and the EVM sidechain without managing multiple wallets.
Q: Is XRP used on the EVM Sidechain?
A: Wrapped XRP serves as the native gas token on the sidechain, allowing seamless integration with existing XRP liquidity and utilities.
Q: How does this benefit institutions?
A: Institutions gain access to a compliant, scalable platform for launching tokenized assets like stablecoins, all within a secure environment backed by a decade of operational history.
Q: What makes Axelar unique in this integration?
A: Axelar provides secure, decentralized, and programmable crosschain messaging. As the first connector for XRPL EVM, it ensures trustless interoperability from day one.
👉 Start building on a truly interconnected blockchain future today.
The Road Ahead: A Multichain Future Built on Interoperability
The launch of crosschain connectivity between Axelar and the XRPL EVM Sidechain marks a pivotal moment in blockchain evolution. By combining EVM compatibility with XRPL’s institutional strengths—and connecting them to a vast multichain network—the stage is set for a new era of scalable, compliant Web3 applications.
As demand grows for tokenized assets, global stablecoins, and cross-border financial solutions, this integration offers a blueprint for how legacy ecosystems can innovate without compromise.
With strong developer support, strategic partnerships, and enterprise-ready infrastructure, the XRPL ecosystem is poised to lead in both DeFi innovation and real-world asset adoption—powered by seamless crosschain interoperability.