XRPL EVM Sidechain Boosts XRP Utility: XRP is now the gas token for Ethereum-compatible smart contracts on the XRPL, fueling ecosystem growth.
Crypto analyst Jungle Inc. recently shared his insights on Ripple’s new stablecoin, RLUSD, and its connection to XRP. He clarifies that RLUSD is not here to replace XRP but to complement it, offering new functionality for institutions, while XRP remains central to the ecosystem.
According to him, RLUSD is not a replacement for XRP. It’s designed to act as a fiat bridge — helping banks and enterprises tap into blockchain tech without dealing with XRP’s price volatility. RLUSD is already live on both the XRP Ledger and Ethereum. It’s regulated by the New York Department of Financial Services and is now being integrated by institutions like Amina Bank and OpenPayd.
Importantly, Ripple is pushing further into the financial system. It has applied for a federal banking charter, and Standard Custody, a Ripple subsidiary that issues RLUSD, already holds a Fed master account.
As of now, RLUSD has a total market cap of $485 million with a 24-hour trading volume of $38.4 million.
One of the biggest developments for XRP is the launch of the XRPL EVM Sidechain. This allows Ethereum-compatible smart contracts and dApps to run on the XRP Ledger.
Here’s the catch: this EVM chain uses XRP as its gas token, just like Ethereum uses ETH. Every transaction and smart contract interaction will require XRP, directly tying the token to the growing XRPL ecosystem.
Jungle Inc compares it to Ethereum’s setup — USDC is used for stable value, but ETH remains essential for gas. Similarly, RLUSD brings in stable value, the EVM chain empowers developers, and XRP remains the fuel for the system and the bridge for global payments.
The critique that XRP’s usage is still low is also addressed. The expert points out that Ethereum had similar slow adoption in 2016, before smart contracts and DeFi changed the game. The same kind of transformation is now starting for XRP.
Ripple is investing heavily in building out the ecosystem. Between the EVM sidechain, stablecoin support, and institutional integrations, the foundation for long-term growth is being laid.
In the past year, XRP has surged 385.2%, outperforming both Bitcoin and Ethereum. In 2025 so far:
Despite the noise, XRP’s role in the Ripple ecosystem is only growing — now supported by both technical infrastructure and real-world integrations.
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