Ripple to Expand RLUSD Stablecoin to Ethereum Layer 2 Networks via Wormhole

Ripple has announced plans to launch its RLUSD stablecoin on several major Layer 2 blockchains next year, including Base, Optimism, Ink, and Unichain. This expansion will utilize Wormhole’s Native Token Transfers (NTT) protocol to ensure seamless multichain interoperability while prioritizing regulatory compliance.

Key Expansion Details

• Multichain Strategy: By moving beyond the XRP Ledger and Ethereum, Ripple aims to increase RLUSD’s utility and liquidity across the broader decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem.
• Infrastructure: The integration leverages Ripple’s existing partnership with Wormhole, established earlier this year to connect the XRP Ledger with other networks.
• Current Scale: Since its debut last December, RLUSD has grown rapidly, with a circulating supply now exceeding $1 billion.

Regulatory and Financial Foundation

Ripple is positioning RLUSD as a “compliant gateway” for both retail and institutional users. This push is supported by significant recent milestones:

• Banking Charter: The stablecoin could soon fall under dual state and federal oversight. The OCC recently granted conditional approval for a national trust bank charter, which would allow Ripple to operate as a regulated national trust bank.
• Major Funding: In November, Ripple raised $500 million at a $40 billion valuation, backed by high-profile investors including Citadel Securities affiliates, Galaxy Digital, and Marshall Wace.

Ultimately, Ripple views this Layer 2 expansion as a critical step in making the XRP Ledger a central hub for institutional finance and multichain digital infrastructure.