- The pilot includes Optimism, Base, Ink and Unichain as part of a multichain expansion strategy.
- Additional chain launches are planned for next year, subject to approval by U.S. regulators.
- RLUSD has a market capitalization of $1.3 billion and has seen growing retail adoption since launch.
Ripple Labs is expanding the reach of its U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin, RLUSD, by testing it across multiple Ethereum layer 2 blockchains as part of a new pilot program.
The expansion comes while the company awaits regulatory sign-off for a broader rollout planned for next year.
By bringing RLUSD beyond its original launch environments, Ripple aims to enable deeper integration of the stablecoin into decentralized finance (DeFi) and institutional blockchain use cases.
The pilot also reflects a wider industry trend toward multichain infrastructure, where stablecoins are expected to operate seamlessly across multiple networks rather than being limited to a single ecosystem.
Pilot focuses on Ethereum layer 2 ecosystems
The pilot is being conducted in collaboration with Wormhole, a cross-chain interoperability protocol that facilitates the movement of assets between blockchains.
Under the arrangement, RLUSD will be tested on Optimism, Base, Ink (an Ethereum layer 2 developed by Kraken), and Unichain.
RLUSD was initially issued on the XRP Ledger and Ethereum. Ripple states that extending to layer 2 networks is a necessary step to support scalability, efficiency, and interoperability as blockchain activity increasingly shifts to lower-cost environments built on Ethereum.
The pilot phase is intended to evaluate how RLUSD performs within these networks before a broader launch, which remains contingent on regulatory approval.
Wormhole technology avoids wrapped assets
A key technical element of the expansion is the use of Wormhole’s Native Token Transfers standard.
This approach allows RLUSD to move between blockchains as the same native asset rather than relying on wrapped or synthetic versions.
In many multichain models, tokens are locked on one chain while a wrapped version is minted on another, which can fragment liquidity.
Wormhole’s system is designed to maintain a single canonical version of RLUSD on each supported blockchain while Ripple retains control of the token contracts.
This structure aims to preserve liquidity and simplify cross-chain usage, an important consideration for stablecoins expected to support payments, decentralized finance, and institutional settlement.
RLUSD growth and market position
RLUSD launched in December 2024 and currently has a market capitalization of $1.3 billion, according to market tracking data.
Although still smaller than more established stablecoins, RLUSD is gaining popularity among retail users.
For context, some larger stablecoins include Tether’s USDT and Circle’s USDC, which have significantly higher market capitalizations.
RLUSD’s adoption is supported by integrations with on-ramps and service providers such as Transak and increasing use in self-custody wallets, including Xaman.
Ripple views stablecoins as a critical bridge between decentralized finance and institutional adoption, positioning RLUSD as a compliance-focused option within a growing multichain landscape.