In a major step toward blockchain adoption in healthcare, thousands of pharmacies across the United States can now settle prescription drug payments using cryptocurrency through a new system powered by Ripple’s $XRP Ledger.
The initiative comes from Wellgistics Health, a prescription drug distributor and digital prescription routing provider serving over 6,500 pharmacies, in partnership with pharmaceutical software firm RxERP.
The blockchain-based system allows pharmacies to pay for wholesale drug products, transfer funds, and record every transaction on the $XRP Ledger, offering a faster and more efficient alternative to traditional bank transfers.
Independent pharmacy owners are far more forward-thinking than many realize,” said Brian Norton, CEO of Wellgistics. “They see the power of blockchain and understand how transformative this will be as it scales across the industry.”
Beyond speed and transparency, the companies emphasized that the system is built to comply with strict industry regulations, including HIPAA privacy protections and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) laws, ensuring that pharmacies can leverage blockchain technology without regulatory risk.
This move highlights a growing trend of real-world blockchain adoption in highly regulated industries. By integrating $XRP Ledger into pharmaceutical supply chains, Wellgistics and RxERP aim to bring efficiency, transparency, and security to a sector where trust and compliance are essential.