The blockchain world is witnessing a pivotal advancement in interoperability with the launch of crosschain connectivity between the newly introduced XRPL EVM Sidechain and over 80 major blockchains—powered by Axelar, a leading decentralized interoperability network. This integration marks a transformative step for the XRP Ledger (XRPL) ecosystem, unlocking seamless asset transfers, expanding developer capabilities, and accelerating institutional adoption of real-world assets (RWAs) and decentralized finance (DeFi) applications.
Announced during EthCC in Cannes, France, this collaboration between the Axelar Foundation, Ripple, Peersyst, and key players in the XRPL community delivers full crosschain functionality from day one. With Axelar’s secure messaging and asset transfer protocols, the XRPL EVM Sidechain now enables developers and users to bridge assets like wrapped XRP—the native gas token—across ecosystems without compromising security or performance.
Bridging XRPL to the Multichain Future
The XRPL EVM Sidechain is designed as a high-speed, secure extension of the XRP Ledger, allowing Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)-compatible smart contracts to run natively while remaining anchored to XRPL's proven consensus mechanism. By leveraging Axelar’s universal interoperability layer, the sidechain achieves immediate connectivity with major networks such as Ethereum, Polygon, Avalanche, and Cosmos—unlocking multichain DeFi, institutional-grade stablecoin deployment, and global asset tokenization.
This integration positions XRPL not just as a payments-focused blockchain but as a scalable platform for next-generation financial infrastructure. Developers can now build or port EVM-based dApps directly onto the XRPL ecosystem, benefiting from:
- Over 6 million existing XRPL wallet holders
- Sub-second finality and low transaction fees
- Native use of XRP as gas
- A robust validator network with strong regulatory compliance standards
👉 Discover how seamless crosschain development can accelerate your blockchain project
Real-World Applications Now Live
With crosschain connectivity operational at launch, several innovative projects have already begun deploying on the XRPL EVM Sidechain, spanning DeFi, institutional finance, and developer tooling.
DeFi & Financial Innovation
- Strobe: A money market protocol enabling lending and overcollateralized borrowing on XRPL, opening access to yield-generating strategies.
- Securd: A secure lending platform that offers passive income by financing leveraged DeFi positions with collateralized risk management.
- Vertex: A capital-efficient derivatives trading platform designed for high-performance trading in a multichain environment.
These protocols allow XRPL users to interact directly from the mainnet—no separate EVM wallet required—streamlining user experience while preserving security.
Developer Infrastructure & Indexing
Robust tooling ensures smooth development and transparency:
- Blockscout: Serves as the official block explorer for the XRPL EVM Sidechain, providing real-time transaction monitoring and contract verification.
- Goldsky: Offers high-performance data indexing through easy-to-use subgraphs, empowering developers with fast, reliable API access to on-chain data.
Institutional-Grade RWA and Stablecoin Potential
One of the most promising implications of this integration lies in real-world asset (RWA) tokenization. The XRP Ledger has long been recognized for its stability, speed, and compliance readiness—making it an ideal foundation for institutions looking to issue regulated digital assets.
With the EVM Sidechain now connected via Axelar, financial institutions can:
- Issue dollar-pegged stablecoins compliant with global standards
- Tokenize bonds, equities, and private credit instruments
- Access global liquidity pools across multiple chains through secure bridges
“XRPL’s institutional-grade infrastructure provides an ideal starting point for this wave of new, dollarized financial products to reach the world,” said Georgios Vlachos, Director at Axelar Foundation and co-founder of the Axelar protocol.
This aligns perfectly with growing demand from traditional finance players seeking blockchain-based settlement layers that are both scalable and interoperable.
Why Interoperability Matters: The Role of Axelar
Axelar functions as a decentralized "gateway" to open finance, enabling secure message passing and asset transfers across heterogeneous blockchains. Its proof-of-stake network validates crosschain operations using threshold cryptography, ensuring trustless execution without centralized intermediaries.
As the first crosschain connector for the XRPL EVM Sidechain, Axelar enables:
- Trustless bridging of assets like wrapped XRP
- Programmable crosschain logic for dApps
- Support for institutional use cases requiring auditability and compliance
Backed by top-tier investors including Dragonfly, Polychain Capital, Binance Labs, and Coinbase Ventures, Axelar is shaping the backbone of future financial infrastructure—secure, compliant, and enterprise-ready.
Getting Started for Developers and Users
Building on this new frontier is already possible today.
For Developers:
- XRPL EVM Documentation: docs.xrplevm.org
- Axelar SDK & Tools: docs.axelar.dev
These resources provide comprehensive guides for deploying smart contracts, integrating crosschain functions, and leveraging Axelar’s Squid Router for seamless asset transfers.
For Users:
- Squid Router serves as the primary crosschain UI app, enabling simple transfers between XRPL mainnet and the EVM sidechain.
- Users can bridge assets securely without leaving their current wallets or learning complex procedures.
👉 Start building multichain applications with powerful interoperability tools
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is the XRPL EVM Sidechain?
A: It’s a secure, high-performance sidechain connected to the XRP Ledger that supports EVM-compatible smart contracts, enabling developers to build decentralized applications using familiar tools while leveraging XRPL’s speed and low cost.
Q: How does Axelar enable crosschain connectivity?
A: Axelar uses a decentralized network of validators to securely route messages and transfer assets across blockchains. Its general message passing allows dApps on XRPL EVM to interact with protocols on Ethereum, Cosmos, and over 80 other chains.
Q: Can I use my existing XRPL wallet?
A: Yes. Users can interact with dApps on the EVM sidechain directly from XRPL mainnet through bridging interfaces like Squid Router—no new wallet setup required.
Q: Is XRP used as gas on the EVM Sidechain?
A: Yes. Wrapped XRP serves as the native gas token on the XRPL EVM Sidechain, maintaining consistency with the broader ecosystem.
Q: What are real-world assets (RWAs) in this context?
A: RWAs refer to physical or traditional financial assets—such as real estate, bonds, or commodities—that are represented as tokens on a blockchain. The XRPL’s compliance focus makes it well-suited for regulated RWA issuance.
Q: Why is interoperability important for institutional adoption?
A: Institutions need systems that connect seamlessly with existing financial rails and multiple blockchains. Interoperability ensures liquidity portability, regulatory traceability, and operational efficiency across global markets.
👉 Explore how crosschain innovation is redefining digital finance
The Road Ahead
The launch of crosschain-enabled XRPL EVM Sidechain represents more than a technical upgrade—it’s a strategic leap toward an interconnected financial future. By combining XRPL’s decade-long reliability with Axelar’s cutting-edge interoperability, the ecosystem is now positioned to attract developers, institutions, and enterprises building scalable, compliant blockchain solutions.
As demand grows for secure RWA platforms and multichain DeFi experiences, this integration sets a new benchmark for what decentralized infrastructure can achieve—without sacrificing decentralization or security.
For builders ready to innovate at the intersection of finance and technology, the tools are now live. The multichain era on XRPL has officially begun.