Coin Bureau sees the launch of the XRPL EVM sidechain as a game-changer for XRP. For years, XRP was focused on fast, cheap cross-border payments but was left behind as other blockchains embraced DeFi, NFTs, and smart contracts. This was because the XRP Ledger (XRPL) wasn't designed for general-purpose programmability.
Now, with the new EVM-compatible sidechain, built using the Cosmos SDK and secured by Comet BFT, XRP can finally tap into the wider DeFi space. This sidechain supports Ethereum-compatible apps and tools like Solidity and MetaMask, making it easy for developers to migrate existing dApps.
Key benefits highlighted by Coin Bureau:
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Fast and cheap transactions (3 to 5 seconds per block, fees under 1 cent)
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Over 1,000 transactions per second
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eXRP (bridged XRP) is used as gas and collateral
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Users can borrow, lend, yield farm, or buy assets without selling their XRP
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Full Ethereum and Cosmos interoperability via Wormhole, XLR, and IBC
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RLUSD, Ripple’s stablecoin, could become central to lending and trading
The EVM sidechain collects fees as rewards for validators instead of burning them like the XRPL mainnet. Over time, as DeFi grows, this could shift XRP’s value from being mainly speculative to utility-driven.
Coin Bureau notes that early DeFi projects like DEXs and lending platforms will play a key role in shaping this ecosystem. They also believe this could benefit the Cosmos ecosystem by attracting XRP holders and boosting liquidity.
While there are potential challenges like technical issues and resistance from traditional XRP supporters, Coin Bureau views this as a crucial and long-overdue step. In their opinion, XRP is no longer just observing DeFi growth — it's becoming an active participant.