- Axelar bridge connects the sidechain to XRPL and 80+ chains; Squid provides the user interface for cross-chain asset transfers.
- This sidechain processes blocks faster than Ethereum with lower costs, suitable for busy applications, using XRP as its gas token.
The XRP Ledger now connects to the Ethereum ecosystem. The XRPL EVM Sidechain started operating on the mainnet on June 30, 2025. Developers announced this step after several years of development and testing. The work involved Peersyst and others within the XRPL community.
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
This new sidechain provides Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatibility to the XRP Ledger. It allows developers to write and deploy smart contracts. This capability was previously absent on the native XRP Ledger. The launch introduces general-purpose smart contract functions to XRPL.
Developers can now build new computer programs. They can also move existing Ethereum-based programs onto this sidechain. These programs can operate solely within the EVM environment or work across multiple chains.
A bridge directly connects the sidechain to the main XRP Ledger. XRP serves as the fuel, called gas, for transactions on the sidechain. This link provides access to XRPL’s established liquidity pool.
The Axelar bridge technology connects the XRPL EVM Sidechain to the main XRP Ledger. Axelar also links this new chain to over 80 other blockchains. It is the first service enabling this specific connection.
Axelar facilitates moving the native XRP token into the sidechain for use as gas. Squid acts as the official user interface for transferring assets between the XRP Ledger and the EVM sidechain.
This integration enhances XRPL’s ability to work with multiple chains. Cross-chain service Wormhole is planned for future integration with the sidechain. Wormhole currently connects over 200 applications across 35 different blockchain systems.
The XRPL EVM Sidechain processes blocks faster than the Ethereum mainnet. Ethereum typically takes around 14 seconds per block. Transaction fees on the sidechain are also lower than Ethereum’s current costs.
XRP (Ripple) is trading at $2.1856 USDT, reflecting a daily pullback of −0.93% after a strong weekly rally of +8.42%. On a broader scale, XRP remains in positive territory with a +2.22% monthly gain and a +362.68% year-over-year increase, consolidating just below its recent highs following the conclusion of major legal risks.
From a technical standpoint, XRP is maintaining a bullish structure despite today’s dip. The asset recently broke above a critical resistance level at $2.15, now turning it into a support zone.
Price action remains constructive with higher lows forming and current consolidation around the $2.18–$2.20 range. Technical patterns on the 4H and daily charts suggest a possible bullish triangle continuation, with upside targets at $2.38, $2.60, and ultimately $3.40 if the breakout confirms with strong volume. Key short-term support lies near $2.05.
The fundamentals driving XRP remain robust:
- Ripple launched its XRPL EVM-compatible sidechain on mainnet, massively expanding smart contract capabilities for the XRP Ledger and enabling Ethereum developers to build on XRPL.
- VC firm projections claim XRP could reach $9,000 within five years, though such forecasts are speculative and should be interpreted cautiously.
- Analysts at ETHNews and highlighted XRP’s “Wave 3” breakout, indicating the beginning of a major Elliott Wave cycle fueled by institutional positioning and technical confirmation.
- Volume activity surged to over 44 million XRP today, suggesting significant accumulation despite a mild price drop.
- XRP’s bullish sentiment is being bolstered by smart money trading patterns, including liquidity sweeps and fair value gap (FVG) retracements—signals of professional involvement.
The XRP community remains highly engaged, and sentiment has been amplified by recent legal clarity and cross-border adoption narratives.
