XRP LEDGER TO LAUNCH EVM SIDECHAIN IN Q2: DETAILS...

- Ripple is preparing to launch an Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) sidechain for the XRP Ledger in Q2, according to its CTO David Schwartz.
- The announcement was made at Apex 2025 in Singapore, with confirmation from core developer Peersyst.
- The sidechain is designed to merge XRP Ledger’s fast, low-cost transactions with Ethereum’s smart contract capabilities. It’s built using the evmOS stack and currently runs on testnet.
- Once live, the sidechain will allow developers to deploy Ethereum-based dApps and smart contracts while staying within the XRP ecosystem.
- Peersyst says 87 new contributors—many without prior XRP exposure—are already building apps, infrastructure, and tools on the testnet.
- The sidechain will link to the XRPL mainnet through Axelar, which enables wrapped XRP to be used as gas.
- This could mark the largest onboarding wave in XRP’s history. It may also open the door for DeFi use cases like liquidity pools, staking, and automated yield strategies.
- While the Flare network offers EVM for XRP, this sidechain connects natively to XRPL.
- A mainnet launch is expected after more validator partnerships and testing.