Ripple’s Secret Weapon: XRP Ledger EVM Sidechain Set to Shake Ethereum’s $50B DeFi Throne Within Weeks
- Mathew Jacob
- 9 hours ago
- 2 min read
In an unexpected twist in the blockchain wars, Ripple’s upcoming XRPL EVM sidechain is gathering steam as the next “Ethereum killer.” With whispers that developers are “abandoning ETH” en masse for XRPL’s blistering speeds and rock-bottom fees, some insiders even joke that “Vitalik is shook.” Adding to the frenzy, innovative platforms like CryptoTradingFund are already demonstrating XRP Ledger’s real-world power—onboarding Amazon and Walmart into its payment rewards framework and facilitating over $2.23 million in transactions during its beta phase. Powered by its native CTF Token, built on the same XRPL technology, CryptoTradingFund underscores how quickly projects can scale when liberated from Ethereum’s congestion and gas-fee nightmares.
The XRPL EVM Sidechain: A Game Changer
Ripple’s XRPL EVM sidechain is designed to bring full Ethereum Virtual Machine compatibility to the XRP Ledger—combining XRPL’s sub-second finality and sub-penny transaction costs with EVM smart-contract flexibility. Early testnets report throughput rates exceeding 3,000 transactions per second, dwarfing Ethereum’s Layer 1 and even outpacing many Layer 2 rollups. By allowing Solidity-based dApps to migrate seamlessly, the sidechain promises developers a low-friction path to instantly unlock XRP Ledger’s efficiency.
Developers Fleeing Ethereum’s High Fees
As Ethereum gas fees spike back into triple digits during network surges, a growing chorus of smart-contract architects and DeFi teams is publicly announcing their XRPL migration plans. On Twitter, one pseudonymous developer quipped:
“Why pay $50 for a swap when I can pay $0.0001 on XRPL EVM? Vitalik might need a moment.”
Major DeFi protocols are rumored to be drafting “Plan XRPL” blueprints, aiming to launch liquidity pools and yield farms on XRPL EVM as early as next quarter.
Capturing a $50 B Market in Record Time
Ethereum’s dApp ecosystem is estimated to command over $50 billion in total value locked (TVL). If even 10% of that migrates to XRPL EVM within weeks of mainnet launch, Ripple could siphon off $5 billion in TVL virtually overnight—reshaping DeFi’s competitive landscape. Analysts note that network effects could accelerate further migrations, as users chase lower fees and faster confirmations, creating a self-reinforcing cycle of liquidity and innovation.
Real-World Validation: CryptoTradingFund’s XRPL Success
CryptoTradingFund’s rapid integration with retail giants like Amazon and Walmart exemplifies XRPL’s real-world scalability. Its CTF Token—the first blockchain rewards token built on XRP Ledger—has processed over $2.23 million in pilot transactions, with a projected capacity of $3.66 trillion in total volume. This demonstrates how businesses can harness XRPL’s throughput for consumer-facing applications, from loyalty points to instant micropayments—use cases that remain impractical on Ethereum’s congested mainnet.
“Vitalik Is Shook”
While Ethereum’s core team continues to refine scaling solutions like sharding and Layer 2 bridges, the meteoric rise of XRPL EVM is forcing a fresh look at Ethereum’s roadmap. Memes celebrating “Vitalik tears” are circulating in Telegram groups, underscoring the deflationary pressure XRPL’s arrival may place on Ethereum gas revenues.
What’s Next?
With the XRPL EVM sidechain mainnet slated for Q3 2025 and testnets already showing robust performance, the stage is set for a dramatic shift in developer mindshare. The coming weeks will reveal whether Ripple can indeed capture a meaningful slice of Ethereum’s $50 billion DeFi market—and whether XRP will finally ascend as the 21st-century blockchain of choice for both institutions and innovators.