- Ripple confirms Q2 launch for an XRP Ledger EVM sidechain, enabling Ethereum smart contracts on XRPL infrastructure.
- Developed with Peersyst using evmOS, the testnet-live sidechain uses wrapped XRP for transaction gas fees.
XRP (Ripple) is trading at $2.2681 USD, down −1.71% on the day. Over the last 7 days, it has gained +0.95%, though it has declined −4.13% in the past month. Still, XRP maintains a +9.12% year-to-date gain and an outstanding +356.7% growth over the past year, underscoring its strong long-term momentum.
XRP is currently consolidating below a resistance zone near $2.34, with key support at $2.10–$2.15. ETHNews analysts note that the asset has formed a bullish flag pattern on the daily chart, suggesting the potential for a breakout if volume confirms.
If $2.34 is breached, XRP could accelerate toward $2.60–$2.80. Conversely, rejection from resistance may lead to another test of the $2.08 demand zone.
Ripple continues to push the boundaries of utility and institutional adoption. Key developments include:
- A $100 million institutional yield initiative built on XRP Ledger (XRPL), boosting DeFi utility.
- The upcoming EVM-compatible sidechain for XRP in Q2 2025, enabling Ethereum smart contracts within XRPL.
- VivoPower entering a partnership to generate passive income through XRP-based assets, showcasing enterprise-level utility.
- These enhancements position XRP as a bridge between traditional finance and decentralized infrastructure, especially if regulatory clarity improves.
The integration uses Axelar’s bridge for secure asset transfers between Ethereum and the new sidechain. Consequently, tokens can move smoothly from one network to the other. This setup preserves XRPL’s fast transaction speeds and low fees while opening access to Ethereum’s broad library of decentralized applications.
Developers will write and deploy Solidity code on a network that settles transactions in under four seconds. Meanwhile, they can tap XRPL’s established infrastructure for payments and remittances. Firms building DeFi services, nonfungible token platforms, or custom financial products will find a familiar Ethereum environment paired with XRPL’s proven throughput.
Testnet activity shows early interest from projects outside the core XRP community. Contributors are already experimenting with cross-chain dApps and liquidity pools. This launch may become one of XRPL’s largest developer onboarding events, drawing teams that previously bypassed XRPL for lack of smart contract support.
For institutional investors, the EVM sidechain adds a layer of flexibility
They can now hold XRP on Ledger and deploy it in Ethereum-based protocols without leaving Ripple’s network. This capability could streamline assets under management and reduce counterparty risk linked to external bridges.
Overall, the upcoming sidechain marks a clear step in XRP Ledger’s evolution. It blends XRPL’s payment strengths with Ethereum’s contract versatility. As it moves from testnet to mainnet, the focus will shift to security audits, cross-chain governance, and tooling support to ensure a seamless launch in Q2.
