The XRPL EVM sidechain has officially launched on the Mainnet, allowing developers to deploy cross-chain Ethereum-compatible applications.

On June 30, the XRPL EVM sidechain was officially launched on the Mainnet, bringing Ethereum smart contracts into the XRP ledger ecosystem. This breakthrough opens up new scenarios for decentralized applications compatible with Ethereum on the XRP ledger. The sidechain was launched by Ripple, a cross-border payment company, and allows developers to build, port, and deploy cross-chain Ethereum-compatible applications within the XRP ecosystem. The official statement mentions that this parallel-running blockchain combines the low-cost transaction advantages of the XRP ledger with the smart contract capabilities of Ethereum, paving the way for new types of decentralized applications such as lending, asset tokenization, and payments based on optimized speed, security, and scalability infrastructure. It is reported that the XRPL EVM sidechain was developed in collaboration by Ripple, Peersyst, and Axelar, utilizing the software architecture of Evmos. Although the XRP ledger previously supported limited local smart contract programming, it had not been compatible with EVM. However, the Flare network integrated with the XRP ledger has separately provided smart contract functionality through an EVM-compatible layer. The sidechain connects to the XRPL Mainnet through Axelar as an exclusive cross-chain bridge for transferring packaged assets like XRP, which will serve as the native fuel token of the sidechain.