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December 15, 2025.
Ripple announced today that its enterprise-grade USD-backed stablecoin, Ripple USD (RLUSD), is expanding to several Ethereum Layer 2 (L2) networks through a partnership with Wormhole.
This multichain push positions RLUSD as the first U.S. trust-regulated stablecoin on these scaling solutions, enhancing compliant liquidity in DeFi.
Launched in December 2024 on the XRP Ledger and Ethereum mainnet, RLUSD has grown rapidly to over $1.3 billion in circulating supply.
Fully backed 1:1 by U.S. dollars, Treasuries, and cash equivalents, it operates under a New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) trust charter, emphasizing compliance and institutional trust.
Key Takeaways
- Multichain Rollout: Testing underway on Optimism, Base (Coinbase's L2), Ink (Kraken's L2), and Unichain (Uniswap's L2), with full launch targeted for 2026 pending regulatory approvals.
- Powered by Wormhole NTT: Utilizes Wormhole's Native Token Transfers standard for seamless, native cross-chain movement without wrapping or liquidity risks.
- Pioneering Regulated Presence: RLUSD becomes the first U.S.-based, trust-regulated USD stablecoin on these L2s, setting a compliance benchmark in DeFi.
- Enhanced XRP Utility: Supports deep liquidity pairs with wrapped XRP (wXRP), enabling efficient trading, lending, and payments on low-cost L2s.
- Strategic Impact: Meets rising demand for regulated stablecoins in scalable ecosystems, bridging institutional finance and on-chain innovation.
The News Update: RLUSD Embraces Multichain Future with Wormhole Integration
Ripple detailed the expansion in a blog post, highlighting its collaboration with Wormhole, a premier cross-chain interoperability protocol. Testing is active on Optimism, a gateway to the OP Superchain, as well as Base, Ink, and Unichain.
"The future of crypto is undeniably multichain," Ripple stated. "Stablecoins must exist wherever demand and utility are." Wormhole's NTT framework enables RLUSD to transfer natively, preserving unified liquidity, regulatory oversight, and avoiding synthetic wrappers.
Jack McDonald, Ripple's Senior Vice President of Stablecoins, noted: "RLUSD is designed from the ground up to be the trusted, liquid medium necessary for users to seamlessly enter, interact with, and exit the entire digital asset economy."
With a circulating supply exceeding $1.3 billion, much of it on Ethereum, RLUSD has seen strong adoption in payments and DeFi. The L2 expansion leverages these networks' low fees and high throughput, while introducing wXRP pairs.
Wrapped XRP, issued by custodians like Hex Trust, allows XRP to participate in Ethereum-compatible DeFi, creating robust pools for swaps and yield.
Analysts view this as Ripple bridging its payments heritage with DeFi growth. "This positions RLUSD as a compliant institutional on-ramp in multichain ecosystems," according to industry reports.
Full deployment awaits final approvals, with potential for additional chains in 2026.
Conclusion
Ripple's RLUSD move to Ethereum L2s via Wormhole signals a shift toward regulated, interoperable assets in a fragmented crypto landscape.
By prioritizing native transfers and compliance, RLUSD addresses institutional needs for scalable, trustworthy stablecoins.
As DeFi and real-world finance converge, RLUSD's growth underscores demand for alternatives blending regulation with blockchain efficiency.
This expansion reinforces Ripple's role in driving mainstream adoption.
Read Next:
- Visa Launches Stablecoins Advisory Practice to Empower Institutions with Stablecoin Strategies
- Q4 2025 Stablecoin Regulations Updates: Global Report
- The Neobank Transition Report
FAQs:
1. What is RLUSD stablecoin?
RLUSD is Ripple's USD-pegged stablecoin, backed 1:1 by U.S. dollars, Treasuries, and cash equivalents. Regulated under NYDFS trust charter, it's built for institutional payments and DeFi.
2. Which Ethereum Layer 2 networks is RLUSD expanding to?
Optimism, Base (Coinbase), Ink (Kraken), and Unichain (Uniswap). Testing now, with official launch planned for 2026 subject to approvals.
3. How does Wormhole's NTT support this expansion?
Wormhole's Native Token Transfers (NTT) enables native, seamless cross-chain movement of RLUSD, maintaining single supply, liquidity, and compliance without wrappers.
4. How does this impact XRP?
It boosts XRP's DeFi utility via wXRP/RLUSD pairs, facilitating on-chain trading, lending, and payments across L2s.
5. When will RLUSD go live on these L2s?
Testing is ongoing; full rollout expected in 2026, pending regulatory clearance. Current supply tops $1.3 billion.
6. Is RLUSD the first regulated stablecoin on these L2s?
Yes, marking the debut of a U.S.-based, trust-regulated USD stablecoin on Optimism, Base, Ink, and Unichain.
Disclaimer:
This content is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, legal, or tax advice; no material herein should be interpreted as a recommendation, endorsement, or solicitation to buy or sell any financial instrument, and readers should conduct their own independent research or consult a qualified professional.
