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The XRP Ledger ecosystem is expanding beyond payments and its native decentralized exchange. New infrastructure is adding Ethereum compatibility, cross-chain connectivity, decentralized application hosting and programmable execution while trying to preserve XRPL’s core focus on fast settlement.
Here are five infrastructure projects playing important roles in that expansion.
The XRPL EVM Sidechain is one of the ecosystem’s most significant developer-infrastructure additions. Launched on mainnet in June 2025, it lets developers deploy Ethereum-compatible smart contracts while accessing XRP-related liquidity.
The network uses XRP as its gas asset through bridged XRP and is connected to XRPL through Axelar. Ripple says Axelar’s infrastructure connects with more than 80 blockchains, considerably widening XRPL’s potential cross-chain reach.
That makes the sidechain particularly relevant for DeFi, lending and tokenized-asset applications that require full EVM programmability.
Axelar provides the interoperability layer connecting the XRPL EVM Sidechain with XRPL and other blockchain ecosystems.
Its bridge enables XRP to move into the sidechain as the native gas asset while also allowing fungible assets to move across supported networks. Ripple originally selected Axelar as the primary interoperability infrastructure for its decentralized validator architecture.
Cross-chain connectivity matters as XRPL increasingly competes for liquidity and applications that currently operate across multiple networks.
Xahau is an XRPL-derived sidechain built around Hooks, lightweight pieces of WebAssembly code that can execute logic before or after transactions.
XRPL documentation identifies Xahau as an example of how sidechains can introduce smart-contract functionality without modifying XRPL Mainnet itself.
This makes Xahau an experimental programmability layer for developers who need more customized transaction behavior.
Evernode builds decentralized application-hosting infrastructure on top of Xahau. Instead of every developer maintaining their own servers, Evernode provides a permissionless marketplace where independent hosts lease computing resources to applications. Its architecture combines HotPocket for application consensus, Sashimono for host management and Xahau Hooks for coordinating the marketplace.
Evernode applications can be written in languages including Node.js, C++ and Rust rather than requiring developers to use a blockchain-specific smart-contract language.
Hooks remain an important infrastructure initiative for bringing lightweight programmability to XRP-related networks.
Hooks are small WebAssembly programs attached to accounts that can enforce logic before or after transactions. Developers can already build and test Hooks through browser-based tooling, although Hooks are not currently a standard XRPL Mainnet feature.
Also Read: How XRPL Permission Delegation Could Change Crypto Wallet Management
XRPL infrastructure is developing along multiple paths rather than turning the base ledger into a general-purpose smart-contract chain.
The EVM Sidechain provides full Ethereum compatibility, Axelar supplies interoperability, while Xahau, Hooks and Evernode explore programmable accounts and decentralized computing. Together, these projects could expand XRPL from payment-focused infrastructure into a broader environment for DeFi, tokenization and cross-chain applications.
1. What is the XRPL EVM Sidechain?
The XRPL EVM Sidechain is an Ethereum-compatible network connected to the XRP Ledger. It allows developers to deploy EVM smart contracts while using bridged XRP as the gas asset.
2. What role does Axelar play in the XRP Ledger ecosystem?
Axelar provides interoperability between the XRPL EVM Sidechain, XRPL and other blockchain networks. It helps assets move across chains and expands access to external liquidity and applications.
3. What is Xahau and how is it different from XRPL Mainnet?
Xahau is an XRPL-derived network designed around programmable Hooks. It enables more customized transaction logic without requiring the XRP Ledger Mainnet itself to become a full general-purpose smart-contract platform.
4. What does Evernode provide to XRPL developers?
Evernode offers decentralized application-hosting infrastructure built on Xahau. Independent hosts can provide computing resources, allowing developers to deploy applications without relying entirely on traditional centralized servers.
5. Are XRPL Hooks available on the XRP Ledger Mainnet?
Hooks can be developed and tested within the broader XRPL ecosystem, particularly on networks such as Xahau. However, Hooks are not currently a standard feature of XRPL Mainnet.
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