Blockchain development firm Peersyst Technology has confirmed the live testnet launch of an Ethereum-compatible sidechain for the XRP Ledger. The project, known as the XRPL EVM sidechain, is being propelled by a collaboration that includes RippleX—the research and development arm of Ripple—as well as the Web3 interoperability platform Axelar Network and blockchain science firm Common Prefix.
Announcing the milestone on X, Peersyst Technology proclaimed: “The wait is over… Excited to share that the XRPL EVM Sidechain is now live on Testnet! In a great collaborative effort between RippleX, Axelar, Common Prefix and Peersyst teams, we’ve been able to complete this critical milestone in preparation for the Mainnet launch, which is now just around the corner. A new era of interoperability and programmability for XRP is upon us.”
The team has launched a new website, xrplevm.org, where developers can integrate the EVM Testnet into MetaMask. A faucet enables users to easily obtain tokens on the EVM testnet, while an additional faucet is accessible via the Discord community. Another highlight is the introduction of a new bridge, powered by Squid Router, that allows for cross-chain transfers between the XRPL and the EVM sidechain.
Peersyst also called on the developer community to begin migrating projects from Devnet to Testnet, noting in its announcement: “Calling all developers of the XRPL EVM sidechain. You can now migrate your projects from Devnet to Testnet to test them in a production environment. We’ve released new documentation with step-by-step support for users, developers, and validators. All information is updated and available at the new docs.xrplevm.org.”
Bringing Ethereum Smart Contracts To The XRP Ledger
According to the official documentation, the EVM is an extended environment built on the Cosmos SDK, designed to run Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) smart contracts. The sidechain utilizes a Proof-of-Authority (PoA) consensus model, emphasizing low latency and high performance while still retaining the security features of the XRPL.
Axelar Network enables asset and message transfer between the XRPL and other blockchains, with the token bridged from the main ledger serving as the native currency on the sidechain. The sidechain fully supports Solidity-based smart contracts, offering developers the chance to reuse popular Ethereum tools such as Remix, Truffle, and MetaMask.
Moreover, transaction finality is under four seconds, and fees are significantly lower compared to Ethereum, creating a cost-effective environment for dApp development. Axelar integration and a dedicated EVM bridge allow for seamless asset movement between XRPL, the EVM sidechain, and other networks, enabling advanced use cases in DeFi and NFTs.
Built using Cosmos SDK and powered by Evmos, the EVM is designed for modular scalability, supporting Byzantine Fault Tolerance (BFT) through the CometBFT (Tendermint) protocol.
The EVM sidechain aims to merge XRPL’s well-known speed and affordability with Ethereum’s versatile smart contract ecosystem. This opens the door to a range of possibilities, from cost-efficient decentralized application (dApp) development to cross-chain DeFi protocols and NFT platforms.
By integrating the ledger’s global payments infrastructure with EVM-based programmability, developers gain the flexibility to automate settlement processes, manage assets across blockchains, and create new financial tools that leverage XRP’s liquidity and low transaction costs.
Peersyst, along with RippleX, Axelar Network, and Common Prefix, has hinted at further announcements in the coming days—ranging from new infrastructure integrations to additional validator partnerships. With the testnet phase already underway, developers are encouraged to begin porting their Ethereum-compatible projects to the EVM sidechain.
A mainnet launch is expected soon, marking another step toward fully combining the XRPL’s established payment capabilities with the rapid growth of Web3 technologies. Peersyt writes: “The Mainnet launch […] is now just around the corner. […] There’s still a lot more to announce, but we’re taking it step by step. In the coming days, we’ll be announcing new partners, infrastructure, validators, and much more.”
At press time, XRP traded at $2.12.
Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com
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