Ripple is expanding the reach of its RLUSD stablecoin by launching it on multiple Layer 2 (L2) networks. This move signifies a major step towards a multichain future, with the goal of making RLUSD accessible wherever demand and utility exist. The stablecoin's expansion to L2 networks is slated before its official debut next year, pending regulatory approval.
RLUSD will initially be available for testing on Optimism, Base, Ink, and Unichain. This expansion is made possible through a partnership with Wormhole, a leading multichain interoperability protocol, utilizing its Native Token Transfers (NTT) standard. The integration with Wormhole's NTT allows Ripple to maintain control over the native issuance of RLUSD while ensuring secure and flexible on-chain liquidity across different ecosystems.
Initially launched on both the XRP Ledger (XRPL) and Ethereum, RLUSD was designed to facilitate cross-chain and DeFi opportunities. The expansion to L2s is crucial for achieving a scalable, efficient, and interoperable future. Optimism serves as an entry point to an ecosystem of other L2s, including Base, Ink, and Unichain.
Ripple's Senior Vice President of Stablecoin, Jack McDonald, stated that RLUSD is designed to be a trusted and liquid medium for users to seamlessly engage with the digital asset economy. Launching RLUSD on these L2 networks establishes a standard where compliance and on-chain efficiency converge.
RLUSD aims to meet the highest compliance standards required for enterprise adoption. As a U.S.-based, trust-regulated stablecoin, RLUSD operates under the principles of transparency and regulation on these new chains. Ripple obtained initial approval for a federal trust bank charter from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) last week. This step would make RLUSD the first stablecoin under both state and federal regulatory oversight.
The integration of RLUSD creates opportunities across the ecosystem, allowing businesses to support XRP and RLUSD in customer-facing services, including payments, swaps, and checkout options. XRP holders can now utilize wXRP across supported chains for swaps, lending, and yield opportunities. Ripple plans to launch RLUSD on additional chains next year, subject to regulatory approval.
RLUSD ranks as the third-largest among U.S.-regulated stablecoins. Ethereum hosts over $1.01 billion of RLUSD’s circulating supply, while XRPL holds $225 million. Each RLUSD token is backed one-to-one by U.S. dollar deposits, U.S. Treasuries, and cash equivalents held in reserve. Ripple has committed to regular attestations and audits of these reserves to ensure transparency and trust in RLUSD's stability.
Ripple launched a pilot program with Mastercard, WebBank, and Gemini in November 2025 to settle credit card transactions using RLUSD on the XRP Ledger. WebBank uses RLUSD over XRPL to instantly settle daily payment obligations with Mastercard, replacing the traditional multi-day wait for bank ACH transfers.
Ripple's RLUSD exemplifies how decentralized infrastructure is redefining institutional trust and global adoption. RLUSD has achieved a market capitalization nearing $1.3 billion and demonstrated the advantages of multichain design in a fragmented blockchain ecosystem. This evolution reflects a realignment of stablecoin utility, regulatory adaptability, and institutional confidence.
