Key highlights:
Ripple has officially launched the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) sidechain for the XRP Ledger on mainnet, a major milestone aimed at improving the network’s interoperability and expanding its smart contract features. The new sidechain enables developers to build and deploy Ethereum-compatible decentralized applications while tapping into XRP’s scalability, cost-efficiency, and payment-focused infrastructure.
A new multichain frontier for XRPL
The XRPL EVM Sidechain operates as a parallel blockchain, connected to the XRPL through the Axelar bridge, an interoperability protocol linked to over 80 blockchains. With this integration, developers gain access to EVM compatibility without sacrificing the performance and reliability that XRPL is known for. XRP, XRPL’s native token, also serves as the gas token on the sidechain, allowing seamless token movement across the two environments.
1/ The XRPL EVM Sidechain is live on mainnet: https://t.co/CJ61aqZvhp
After years of building with @Peersyst and the XRPL community, devs can now build, port, and deploy cross-chain and EVM-only dApps using XRP as gas, with a direct bridge to the XRPL.
Get started 👇
— RippleX (@RippleXDev) June 30, 2025
Ripple CTO and XRPL co-creator David Schwartz described the sidechain as a “flexible environment” that extends XRPL’s capabilities without altering its core attributes.
The project, which was developed by Ripple in collaboration with Peersyst and Axelar, leverages the Evmos software stack. This evolution follows XRPL’s prior limited support for smart contracts and expands its developer appeal significantly.
Developer-centric features and ecosystem impact
The XRPL EVM Sidechain is tailored for developers who want to deploy EVM dApps within an ecosystem optimized for high throughput, low costs, and regulatory compliance. Notable features include:
- Ethereum compatibility: Supports Solidity, MetaMask, Hardhat, and other Ethereum tooling.
- High performance: Offers faster block times than Ethereum and can process up to 1,000 transactions per second.
- Scalability and cost-efficiency: Utilizes a Proof of Authority consensus model with low gas fees.
- Access to XRPL: Opens the door to over 6 million existing XRPL wallet holders and its deep liquidity.
- Robust validator network: Over 25 companies currently operate validators on the new sidechain.
The sidechain has already attracted attention from decentralized finance (DeFi) projects like Band Protocol, Grove, and Squid, and will integrate Wormhole—another major interoperability protocol, further broadening its reach across more than 35 blockchain ecosystems.
XRP price outlook remains cautiously bullish
As the technical advancements continue to strengthen XRP’s long-term utility, market sentiment has shown signs of cautious optimism. Over the past month, XRP has traded mostly between $2.10 and $2.30, briefly dipping to $1.95 before rebounding strongly to around $2.20.
According to CoinCodex’s XRP price prediction, the token is expected to climb to $2.60 by September 2025, reflecting a steady uptrend. Looking further ahead, the forecast anticipates a year-end high of $3.26 in December 2025, driven by increased ecosystem activity and broader crypto market momentum.
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Source:: XRP Ledger Launches EVM Sidechain on Mainnet to Bridge Ethereum and XRP Ecosystems