XRPL EVM marks a strategic leap forward for Ripple, powered by the Cosmos EVM and IBC interoperability.

XRPL EVM marks a strategic leap forward for Ripple, powered by the Cosmos EVM and IBC interoperability.

Ripple’s XRP Ledger (XRPL) has long been recognized as a purpose-built blockchain for global payments, known for its speed, low fees, and regulatory-friendly design. However, as the Web3 ecosystem has evolved, so has the need for programmability, enabling features such as smart contracts, DeFi applications, and cross-chain asset movement.

To address this, Ripple is launching the XRPL EVM Sidechain: a high-performance, Ethereum-compatible chain built using the Cosmos EVM and connected via IBC Eureka. This upgrade introduces full smart contract functionality to the XRPL, enabling use cases such as lending, staking, and advanced DeFi strategies, without compromising the speed, cost efficiency, and reliability of the XRPL.

By adopting the Cosmos EVM stack, Ripple is positioning the XRPL for long-term relevance in a multichain future. Developers can now build using Solidity and familiar Ethereum tooling while XRP holders gain access to programmable applications, all within the XRPL ecosystem.

This architecture also opens XRPL to the wider Cosmos network, enabling integrations with protocols like Injective, Band Protocol, Elys, Keplr, and Leap. Ripple’s move underscores the strength of the Cosmos EVM as a modular and interoperable framework capable of supporting some of the largest communities in the crypto space.

Ripple selected the Cosmos EVM stack to build the XRPL EVM for several key reasons:

According to Luke Judges, Director of Partner Success at RippleX, the Cosmos EVM and stack provides core functionality to enable programmability and unlock DeFi to millions of XRP users that have historically been lacking for Ripple and XRPL.

By adding smart contract functionality through Cosmos’ EVM stack, Ripple is turning XRP into a programmable asset capable of supporting:

Crucially, the XRPL EVM operates as a sidechain, ensuring the XRPL’s base layer remains optimized for payments, while the EVM sidechain assumes the computational load of programmable dApps.

Successful Testnet Provides Key Momentum for Mainnet

Since its public testnet launch in March, XRPL EVM has seen rapid adoption leading up to its mainnet launch earlier this summer. The project brought together a diverse group of builders and users from across the XRP ecosystem and beyond, generating:

Mainnet Launch

On June 30, 2025, @Ripple and their developer partner @Peersyst announced the launch of the XRPL EVM Sidechain Mainnet at the Cosmos Sovereign EVM Day event at @EthCC in Cannes, France.

The chain has generated significant inflows and developer activity since its debut.

In addition, the XRPL EVM chain has achieved the following:

Between testnet and mainnet, these metrics indicate that Cosmos EVM isn’t only enabling XRP programmability, but also attracting an entirely new wave of developers to the XRP ecosystem.

With the announcement that the five-year legal dispute between Ripple and the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) in the US is now over and more regulatory clarity coming into the industry, Ripple and XRP are well-positioned to move forward and continue to build meaningful products and solutions for users everywhere.

And with the added utility and developer flexibility provided by the Cosmos EVM, adoption by both builders and investors in the XRP ecosystem will continue to build momentum and scale as new dApps and partners integrate into the XRPL EVM environment.

Ready to get started building with the Cosmos Stack?

Get in touch with our team to discuss your specific use case or check out the product documentation.

Follow Cosmos on X for the latest news and join the Discord to connect with other builders and stay up-to-date with the latest developments in the Cosmos ecosystem.

Ripple Taps Cosmos EVM to Expand the XRP Ledger’s Utility was originally published in Cosmos Ecosystem Blog on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

356 +