Ripple RLUSD stablecoin expands to Ethereum layer 2 networks
The pilot includes Optimism, Base, Color and Unichain as part of a multi-chain expansion strategy. Additional chain launches are planned next year, pending regulatory approval in the US. RLUSD has a market cap of $1.3 billion and has seen growing retail adoption since its launch.
Ripple Labs is moving to expand its reach by testing the US dollar-backed stablecoin RLUSD on multiple Ethereum Layer 2 blockchains as a new pilot program.
The expansion comes as the company waits for regulatory approval to move to a wider rollout planned for next year.
By extending RLUSD beyond its initial launch environments, Ripple is positioning a stablecoin to deeply integrate decentralized finance and institutional blockchain use cases.
The pilot reflects a broader industry shift to multichain infrastructure, where a stablecoin is expected to work seamlessly across multiple networks rather than being confined to a single ecosystem.
The pilot targets the Ethereum layer 2 ecosystem
The pilot is being conducted in partnership with Wormhole, which allows it to move between blockchains.
Under the arrangement, RLUSD will be tested on Optisism, Base, Ink, which is the Ethereum layer 2 developed by Kraken, and Unichain.
RLUSD was originally launched on XRP Ledger and Ethereum. Ripple pointed out that deploying to Layer 2 networks is an important step to support efficiency, agility and interoperability as the blockchain movement moves to lower-cost environments built on top of Ethereum.
The pilot phase is intended to evaluate how RLUSD works in these networks before a wider launch, which is dependent on regulatory approval.
Wormhole technology removes sealed assets
A key technical aspect of the expansion is the use of Wormhole's Native Token Transfers standard.
According to Wormhole, this approach allows RLUSD to move between blockchains instead of relying on packaged or compiled versions.
In many multi-chain models, tokens are locked on one chain and a sealed version is created on another, which can break liquidity.
The wormhole system is designed to maintain a single canonical version of RLUSD on each supported blockchain, with Ripple controlling the token's terms.
This structure is intended to preserve liquidity and ease the use of cross-chains, which is particularly useful for stablecoins that are expected to support payments, decentralized finance, and institutional settlement.
RLUSD growth and market position
According to CoinGecko data, RLUSD was launched in December 2024 and currently has a capitalization of $1.3 billion.
While it remains far less than an established stablecoin, it is beginning to gain acceptance among retail users.
In comparison, Tether's USDT has a market cap of $186 billion, Circle's USDC has $78 billion, and Sky Protocol's USDS has $9.8 billion.
RLUSD adoption will also include integration with platforms such as Transc and the use of decentralized wallets including Xaman.
While Ripple sees stablecoins as a key bridge between decentralized finance and institutional adoption, RLUSD is positioned as a compliance-focused alternative in the evolving multi-chain landscape.
