XRPL's EVM Sidechain Set for Q2 2025 Launch: Targeting the Largest Developer Onboarding in XRP History

Ripple is preparing to take a major step in expanding the XRP Ledger's capabilities, with its Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)-compatible sidechain scheduled to go live in Q2 2025.

XRPL’s EVM Sidechain Set for Q2 2025 Launch: A Deep Dive

As the crypto world turns its attention to new developments, a major milestone is rapidly approaching for Ripple. Recent reports by crypto news outlet Token Post and blockchain analytics firm Peersyst Technologies have shed light on the pending launch of Ripple’s Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)-compatible sidechain for the XRP Ledger (XRPL).

According to a recent statement by Ripple CTO David Schwartz at the APEX 2025 conference in Singapore, which was attended by Token Post, the sidechain is now set to go live in the second quarter (Q2) of 2025.

This launch will be a significant moment for both Ripple and the wider crypto community. The sidechain is designed to combine the speed and low-cost transactions of XRP Ledger with the smart contract capabilities of Ethereum. It’s built using the evmOS stack and is currently being tested on testnet.

Earlier reports from January 2025 had signaled the advanced stage of the sidechain development. At the time, it was already in a "very late stage of development," capable of executing Ethereum-compatible smart contracts and running simple dApps.

Further, it was reported that the testnet had already attracted 87 new contributors, all previously unaffiliated with XRP, who are now actively building infrastructure, applications, and driving adoption of the XRPL EVM. Described by Peersyst as “a remarkable feat,” this level of community involvement could make this the biggest onboarding in XRP history.

What This Means for XRP Price

Once it goes live, the new EVม sidechain will make the XRP Ledger much more useful. It will allow developers to build apps, like Decentralized Finance (DeFi) projects and Non-Fungible Token (NFT) platforms, on XRPL using Solidity, Ethereum’s most popular programming language. This will open up the possibility of porting over dApps and projects from Ethereum to XRPL.

As more Layer 1 blockchains compete to attract developers and projects with their own strengths, Ripple is making a move to support Ethereum-based tools while still highlighting the speed and low cost of transactions on XRPL. This strategy could help Ripple's technology stand out again in the growing cryptocurrency market.

With the full launch expected by the end of Q2 2025, the crypto community will be closely following this development. If successful, this sidechain could usher in a new era for XRP, one that extends far beyond remittances.