A new sidechain is bringing the power of Ethereum smart contracts to the XRP Ledger (XRPL). This means developers can now build apps on XRPL using familiar Ethereum tools.
A Collaborative Effort
The project, called the XRPL EVM sidechain, is a team effort involving RippleX (Ripple’s R&D arm), Axelar Network, Common Prefix, and Peersyst Technology. They’ve just launched a testnet, paving the way for a mainnet launch soon.
What’s New for Developers?
- Testnet is Live: Developers can now test their projects on the new testnet, migrating from the earlier devnet. New documentation is available to help with the transition.
- Easy Access: A new website (xrplevm.org) makes it easy to get started. You can get test tokens from a faucet, and there’s even Discord support.
- Cross-Chain Bridge: A new bridge, using Squid Router, lets you easily move assets between XRPL and the new sidechain.
- Ethereum Compatibility: The sidechain runs Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) smart contracts, so you can use familiar tools like Remix, Truffle, and MetaMask. Solidity is fully supported.
Why This Matters
This sidechain combines the best of both worlds:
- XRPL’s Speed and Low Costs: Transactions are finalized in under four seconds, and fees are much lower than on Ethereum.
- Ethereum’s Smart Contract Ecosystem: Developers can build decentralized applications (dApps), DeFi protocols, and NFT platforms using the familiar Ethereum tools and technologies.
The sidechain uses the Cosmos SDK and is built for scalability and security. Axelar Network handles cross-chain asset transfers, making it easy to move assets between XRPL, the sidechain, and other blockchains.
What’s Next?
The team plans more announcements soon, including new partnerships and infrastructure updates. The mainnet launch is just around the corner, promising a big step forward for XRPL and Web3 interoperability.
