XRP Ledger will launch an EVM-compatible sidechain on mainnet in Q2 2025, opening up smart contracts and Ethereum dApps directly on XRPL. 

The sidechain uses a Proof-of-Authority (PoA) mechanism, processing over 1,000 transactions per second with fees around $0.01 and using wXRP as the gas token. The network will connect XRPL and the EVM chain via the Axelar bridge, allowing flexible transfer of XRP between XRPL and the EVM chain.