The XRP Ledger (XRPL) network has officially entered a new era with the launch of the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatible sidechain on June 30th. In just the first week, nearly 1,400 smart contracts were deployed on this sidechain — an impressive figure reflecting the real demand from the developer community for smart contract functionality on XRPL.
The Combination of High Speed and Ethereum Development Tools
Built in collaboration between Ripple and Peersyst Technology, the EVM sidechain has opened up seamless integration capabilities for Ethereum development tools — including Solidity, MetaMask, and Hardhat — with fast transaction speeds (just 3.4 seconds per block) and extremely low costs that are XRPL's strengths. According to published information, this sidechain can handle up to 1,000 transactions per second, creating an ideal foundation for decentralized applications (dApps) to thrive on the new platform.
Peersyst emphasized in a social media post: "The demand for smart contracts on XRP is absolutely clear. Nearly 1,400 contracts have been deployed on the Mainnet in just one week.
Ripple's Cross-Chain Expansion Strategy
The launch of the EVM sidechain is part of a long-term strategy to transform XRPL from a pure payment network into a comprehensive blockchain operating system. Along with the recent upgrade to XRPL version 2.5.0, Ripple is gradually strengthening XRPL's scalability, programmability, and integration with the multi-chain blockchain ecosystem.
A highlight is Ripple's announcement of integration with Wormhole — a leading multi-chain messaging protocol that allows communication and interaction between dozens of blockchain networks. Through Wormhole, developers can build Web3 applications with cross-chain interoperability, opening up the prospect of creating advanced decentralized financial products, such as borrowing on Ethereum and repaying in XRP.
Robust Development Ecosystem: From Developers to Validators
Not only attracting the developer community, the EVM sidechain also quickly received support from validators and infrastructure partners. Right at launch, 25 independent organizations deployed validating nodes to support the new network.
Moreover, the bridge between XRPL and Axelar Network — a massive cross-chain interaction platform — has begun to show tangible results. According to data from Axelar, cross-chain transaction volume has surpassed $100 million per day through XRPL channels.
This not only enhances liquidity but also positions XRP in direct competition with major smart contract ecosystems like Ethereum, Solana, or Avalanche.
XRP: From Payment Asset to Comprehensive Smart Contract Platform
The deployment of the EVM sidechain shows that Ripple is serious about reshaping XRP's position in the Web3 ecosystem. From an asset specializing in cross-border payments, XRP is being expanded into a versatile blockchain that can support a wide range of financial applications, DeFi, asset tokenization, and much more.
With Ethereum compatibility, low costs, fast speeds, and multi-chain infrastructure integration, XRPL is becoming a launchpad for a new wave of developers — those seeking a more efficient blockchain solution without compromising their familiar programming experience.
Summary
The launch of the EVM sidechain is an important strategic milestone in the journey to upgrade XRPL into a new generation blockchain platform. In the context of Web3 increasingly demanding high interactivity between chains and robust infrastructure for decentralized financial applications, XRP is clearly demonstrating its central role in the global liquidity, smart contracts, and multi-chain scalability landscape.
