Ripple (XRP) USD (RLUSD) Expands to Layer 2 Networks with Wormhole's NTT Standard
Timothy Morano Dec 15, 2025 14:59
Ripple (XRP) USD (RLUSD) is set to expand its reach to Layer 2 networks through Wormhole's NTT standard, enhancing multichain interoperability and compliance.
The rapid evolution of blockchain technology continues as Ripple (XRP) announces the expansion of Ripple USD (RLUSD) to Layer 2 (L2) networks, a significant move in partnership with Wormhole's Native Token Transfers (NTT) standard. This development aims to fortify the multichain future by ensuring stablecoins are accessible across various blockchain platforms, addressing both institutional finance needs and the burgeoning on-chain economy.
A Strategic Multichain Expansion
Originally issued on the XRP Ledger (XRPL) and Ethereum, RLUSD is now set to expand to L2 networks such as Optimism, Base, Ink, and Unichain. This expansion is scheduled to commence next year, pending regulatory approval, and represents a crucial step in Ripple's strategy to enhance cross-chain and decentralized finance (DeFi) opportunities. By leveraging Wormhole’s NTT standard, Ripple aims to maintain native issuance and control of RLUSD, ensuring secure and flexible on-chain liquidity movement across new ecosystems.
Jack McDonald, Senior Vice President of Stablecoin at Ripple, emphasized the strategic importance of this expansion, stating, “Stablecoins are the gateway to DeFi and institutional adoption, and 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.”
Commitment to Compliance and Trust
RLUSD is designed with stringent compliance standards in mind, targeting enterprise adoption. As the first U.S.-based, trust-regulated stablecoin to launch on these L2 networks, it is issued under a New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) Trust Company Charter. This ensures bank-level oversight and regulation, a feature that sets RLUSD apart from many other stablecoins.
Furthermore, Ripple has applied for an Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) charter, promising dual regulatory oversight—a milestone no other stablecoin currently achieves. Globally, Ripple holds over 75 licenses, with recent recognitions in key jurisdictions such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi, underscoring its commitment to global compliance.
Enhancing Ripple's Ecosystem
The integration of RLUSD into L2 networks is poised to enhance the utility of XRP and RLUSD, providing a stable currency for a successful digital asset ecosystem. Hex Trust's issuance of wrapped XRP (wXRP) for cross-chain interoperability marks a significant advancement, allowing XRP holders to utilize XRP alongside RLUSD as a premier trading and liquidity pair on supported chains.
This integration opens up new opportunities for businesses to incorporate XRP and RLUSD in customer-facing services such as payments and swaps, enhancing user experiences in the digital asset economy. Ripple's vision for a multichain future is set to progress further with plans to launch RLUSD on additional chains, subject to final regulatory approval, in the coming year.
For more details, visit the official Ripple Insights.
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