Ripple is preparing to expand its RLUSD stablecoin beyond its current blockchains, signaling a broader push into the growing multichain ecosystem. The company announced on Monday that it is working with cross-chain interoperability provider Wormhole to support RLUSD on several Layer 2 networks, including Base and Optimism.
The move is aimed at meeting rising demand for stablecoins across faster, lower-cost blockchain environments. Ripple said it plans to officially launch RLUSD on additional Layer 2 chains next year, pending regulatory approval.
Expanding RLUSD’s Reach Across Blockchains
RLUSD was introduced in December on the XRP Ledger (XRPL) and Ethereum. Since then, it has grown to a circulating supply of more than $1 billion, according to CoinGecko data. Ripple now plans to test the stablecoin on Optimism, Base, Ink, and Unichain using Wormhole’s Native Token Transfers (NTT) standard.
Ripple described the expansion as a response to how digital finance is evolving. As decentralized applications and institutional use cases spread across multiple blockchains, stablecoins need to be available wherever users operate.
Jack McDonald, Ripple’s senior vice president of stablecoins, said the company views RLUSD as a bridge between compliance-focused financial institutions and onchain markets. He noted that launching the stablecoin on Layer 2 networks allows Ripple to extend its utility while maintaining regulatory standards.
Building on an Existing Wormhole Relationship
This is not the first collaboration between Ripple and Wormhole. In June, Ripple integrated Wormhole’s technology to improve multichain interoperability for the XRP Ledger. That partnership laid the groundwork for broader asset movement across networks, aligning with Ripple’s longer-term goal of positioning XRPL as infrastructure for institutional-grade onchain finance.
By leveraging Wormhole’s cross-chain tools, Ripple aims to ensure RLUSD can move securely and efficiently between supported blockchains without fragmenting liquidity.
Regulatory Progress and Institutional Focus
Ripple’s stablecoin strategy is closely tied to its regulatory efforts. Last week, the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) conditionally approved a national trust bank charter for Ripple National Trust Bank. If finalized, the approval would place RLUSD under both state and federal oversight.
Ripple has said such a structure would be unique in the stablecoin market and could provide additional confidence for institutional users evaluating regulated digital assets.
The company has also continued to attract significant investor interest. In November, Ripple raised $500 million at a $40 billion valuation. The funding round included backing from firms such as Fortress, Citadel Securities, Galaxy Digital, Pantera, Brevan Howard, and Marshall Wace.
Looking Ahead
With plans to expand RLUSD to Layer 2 networks and progress toward broader regulatory clarity, Ripple is positioning its stablecoin as a compliant option for both decentralized finance and institutional adoption. If approvals move forward as expected, the RLUSD rollout could mark a notable step in how regulated stablecoins operate across an increasingly multichain crypto landscape.
