Ripple, XRP Ledger (XRPL) developer ecosystem will add smart contracts, opening various use cases for users, developers, and entrepreneurs. Developers aim to leverage XRPL’s expanded capabilities. According to the Ripple team, the smart contracts feature will go live on the XRPL Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) sidechain in the coming months.
Ripple Team’s XRPL Initiative
In the announcement, Ripple stated that smart contracts will also be available on the XRPL mainnet. However, the cross-border solutions firm is still in the research phase and has not provided a definite timeline for deployment. Smart contracts are self-executing contracts stored on the blockchain network. They automatically progress when certain conditions are met. Smart contracts are programs that manage transactions and agreements without intermediaries.
Smart contracts have various use cases and potential applications ranging from decentralized finance (DeFi) to supply chains. They are used to develop decentralized applications (DApps) on popular blockchain platforms like Ethereum, BNB Chain, Avalanche, and Solana.
Ripple expressed eagerness to collaborate with DeFi developers and invited community members to provide input on design features. The organization invited programmers familiar with EVM languages to explore the possibilities on the sidechain. Ripple also stated that the sidechain was created for developers using Ethereum-based smart contracts. This provides a familiar environment for deploying DApps and allows them to use Solidity, a programming language used to create smart contracts on Ethereum.
Details on the Subject
According to Ripple, smart contracts will enter the XRPL ecosystem through the sidechain developed with blockchain firm Peersyst. The company believes the new development will help the blockchain network appeal to more developers:
“This sidechain will bring Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatibility to the XRP community, expanding XRP Ledger’s appeal to a global developer community by allowing developers to use familiar tools and programming languages.”
The company also added that the momentum to enhance XRPL’s programmability will accelerate further in 2025 as the organization continues to progress towards adding smart contracts to the mainnet.
