The company has started testing RLUSD on the major Ethereum L2 platform. This launch reflects the growing demand for regulated stablecoins. RLUSD will go live in L2 following regulatory approval in New York.
The cryptocurrency industry is gradually moving towards a world where no single platform dominates.
Users, institutions, and developers want cross-chain transfers based on demand and opportunity, rather than being locked into one blockchain.
Stablecoins, on the other hand, remain at the heart of this trade as they prove to be an entry point for new players navigating the on-chain economy.
Ripple seems to acknowledge this reality.
In an announcement today, December 15th, the blockchain company confirmed that it has begun testing its stablecoin RLUSD on multiple Ethereum L2 platforms.
The experiment is a key move toward the asset’s expected public release in 2026, subject to regulatory approval.
Meanwhile, the current testing phase will take place across Base, Unichain and Ink, leveraging Wormholde’s interoperable infrastructure to streamline movement between different networks.
Commenting on the latest move, Jack MacDonald, senior vice president of stablecoins at Ripple, acknowledged that stablecoins are the gateway to decentralized finance and institutional adoption.
He added:
RLUSD is designed from the ground up to be the trusted, liquid medium that users need to seamlessly enter, interact, and exit the entire digital asset economy. By launching RLUSD, the first Trust Regulated stablecoin in the US, on these L2 networks, we are not only extending our utility; We are setting the definitive standard where compliance and on-chain efficiency meet.
Why is the L2 platform important?
Layer 2 networks have proven to be one of the busiest instruments in the cryptocurrency space.
These blockchains are faster, cheaper, and more practical for everyday use than the main Ethereum network, which faces challenges such as congestion and expensive transactions.
Therefore, L2 has emerged as the place of choice for decentralized applications, on-chain services, and digital payments.
By deploying RLUSD on these platforms, Ripple is leveraging the potential for real user activity.
Notably, Optimism serves as a first entry and has linked access to platforms such as Unichain, Ink, and Base.
Such an approach allows Ripple’s stablecoin to grow with solid user activity.
Ripple, on the other hand, is collaborating with Wormhole and its NTT (Native Token Transfer) standard.
This setup allows RLUSD to move between different chains while maintaining a single, consistent token.
Although Ripple controls stablecoin issuance, users enjoy flexibility across multiple platforms.
The announcement added:
By leveraging Wormhole’s Native Token Transfer (NTT) standard, Ripple can maintain native issuance and control of RLUSD while providing security and flexibility for on-chain liquidity movement across these new ecosystems.
Strengthening the XRP ecosystem
RLUSD’s strategic expansion also strengthens the entire XRP ecosystem.
Stablecoins are critical to transactions, digital payments, and liquidity, and Ripple is already promoting stablecoins where the demand exists.
XRP is trading at $1.93 after falling 3% in the past 24 hours.
Its performance reflects overall market sentiment.
The crypto market continues to deteriorate, with Bitcoin struggling below $90,000 and currently trading at $87,000.
