Ripple said it activated a secondary blockchain that links the XRP Ledger (XRPL) with Ethereum-based apps.
In a 30 June blog post, Ripple said the new blockchain is fully compatible with Ethereum’s tools and languages. Instead of needing to use new tools, developers can build or migrate their Ethereum-based decentralized applications (dApps) using XRP, instead of Ethereum’s native Ether (ETH) token.
App expansion
XRPL is a blockchain, comparable to Ethereum or the blockchain used for Bitcoin. The new sidechain bridges XRPL to Ethereum’s blockchain, allowing for any Ethereum-based app to expand into the XRP space.
The sidechain can process up to 1,000 transactions per second, according to Ripple, a company known for proving digital payment and cross-border transaction solutions, as well as its native cryptocurrency XRP.
Ripple CTO David Schwartz had teased the release in early June, speaking at the Apex 2025 event in Singapore.
Flexible for developers
In this week’s blog post, Schwartz said: “The XRPL EVM [Ethereum Virtual Machine] Sidechain introduces a flexible environment for developers to deploy EVM-based applications, while maintaining a connection to the XRPL’s efficiency.”
Ripple says the new sidechain eliminates a trade-off for developers choosing between EVM compatibility or using the “unique advantages” provided by XRPL.
The company sees interoperability as key for the future of blockchain enabled applications and aims to build on that for expanded uses of XRP, for example in cross-border transactions.
After the 30 June announcement, the XRP price hit its 7-day high of $2.32 at 20:00 UTC on the same day. At 14:50 on 1 July, XRP had dropped back to $2.18.
