Blockchain technology to even greater impermeability, Ripple is making a daring step in launching the XRPL EVM Sidechain, which is a solution that combines the capabilities of the XRP Ledger with the versatility of ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). To Ethereum developers, this promises a paradigm shift; the ability to create and launch smart contracts on a fresh network, but not abandoning the tools and frameworks the developers are already accustomed to. This is all you have to know about this new frontier in cross-chain dApp development.
What is XRPL EVM Side Chain?
The XRPL EVM Sidechain is an independent blockchain with intercasino interoperability with the XRP Ledger, which was developed to work with the Ethereum-compatible smart contracts. The sidechain is an initiative developed by Peersyst Technology in cooperation with RippleX which enables developers to create decentralized applications (dApps) with the Solidity language and the EVM tools amidst enjoying the speed, efficiency, and scalability provided by XRPL. By 2025 the XRPL EVM Sidechain is out of an early experimental stage, at an advanced level of publicly tested and will go live on mainnet in Q3 2025, once the testing is over and more developers have been onboarded.
Why This Is Big News for Ethereum Developers
Ethereum developers have traditionally built on chains like Ethereum mainnet, Arbitrum, Optimism, or BNB Chain. Though, these networks often suffer from high gas fees, network congestion, and slow transaction finality.
The XRPL EVM Sidechain addresses these challenges by offering:
- Full Solidity compatibility
- Ethereum tooling support (Truffle, Hardhat, MetaMask, Remix)
- Lower gas fees compared to Ethereum Layer 1
- Faster transaction finality (~3–5 seconds via XRPL consensus)
- Access to XRP and XRPL-native assets
This creates a unique opportunity for devs to extend their dApps into the XRPL ecosystem without rewriting their codebases.
How It Works: Architecture and Integration
The EVM Sidechain is connected to the XRPL Mainnet through a two-way bridge, Enabling seamless movement of assets like XRP between networks.
Key Features:
- EVM Chain Layer: Handles smart contracts, dApps, and dApp UIs using Solidity.
- Bridge Protocol: Connects EVM Sidechain with XRPL, supporting asset interoperability.
- Consensus Engine: Maintains high throughput and low latency using XRPL consensus.
This structure provides the best of both worlds Ethereum’s programmability and XRPL’s speed—making it ideal for scalable, cost effective dApp development.
Developer Use Cases and Possibilities
Here are just a few ways developers can benefit from XRPL’s EVM compatibility:
1. Cross-Chain DeFi
Build decentralized exchanges, lending protocols, or liquidity pools that operate across XRPL and Ethereum ecosystems. Use XRP as a native liquidity asset.
2. NFT Marketplaces
Create fast, low-cost NFT platforms that leverage XRPL’s native NFT features with Ethereum’s existing toolchains.
3. Enterprise Blockchain Solutions
Integrate smart contract functionality into RippleNet-based enterprise solutions, particularly for finance, remittances, and tokenized assets.
4. Web3 Startups
Lower the barrier of entry for building new Web3 projects without the high gas costs of Ethereum L1 or the complexities of custom L2s.
Developer Tools and Resources
To start building on the XRPL EVM Sidechain, here’s what you need:
- Wallets: MetaMask (custom RPC setup)
- Dev Tools: Hardhat, Truffle, Remix, Web3.js
- Explorer: Peersyst’s block explorer for sidechain activity
- Docs: XRPL EVM Dev Documentation
- Testnet Faucet: Get free XRP for testing your smart contracts
Either, RippleX offers grants and funding opportunities through its XRPL Grants Program, supporting open-source and enterprise blockchain development.
Things to Consider
While the XRPL EVM Sidechain offers powerful potential, a few caveats remain:
- Mainnet still pending: Live deployment is expected in Q3/Q4 2025.
- Ecosystem still maturing: Few dApps currently live, but interest is growing.
- Bridge security: As with any cross-chain protocol, bridge audits and robust monitoring are essential for security.
However, these are typical of early-stage infrastructure and are actively being addressed by Ripple and Peersyst.
The Bigger Picture: Multi-Chain Web3
XRPL EVM Sidechain is not only a matter of expanding XRPL alone, it is a bigger trend of blockchain interoperability. It is likely to be given that Ethereum, Solana, Polkadot, and Cosmos will keep evolving and that the developers will require a platform that links ecosystems and does not compete with them. One of the boldest moves along this vector so far has been Ripple EVM sidechain, which combines the performance of XRP with developers friendly accessibility of Ethereum.
Final Thoughts
XRPL EVM Sidechain is not just another technical advancement, but also a key to link the two most vibrant environments within the crypto industry. To the Ethereum builders, this opens markets, cheaper fees, higher performance, and increased customer access and they do not need to know a new stack. With a sidechain being positioned to go into mainnet by the end of the year, it is time to start trying it, experimenting, and learning how to use it. The future of Web3 is multi-chain, and Ethereum developers now have a potent new home that is XRPL EVM.