Ethereum got faster. Fees dropped. Users followed. Now Ripple is making its move.
Ripple announced plans to bring its RLUSD stablecoin to multiple Ethereum Layer-2 networks in 2026, and this isn’t a small experiment. The rollout will include Optimism, Base, Ink Chain, and Unichain, powered by Wormhole’s cross-chain messaging and its Native Token Transfers (NTT) standard.
In short: RLUSD is going multichain, without the usual bridge mess.
Why Ripple Chose Wormhole
Most cross-chain setups rely on wrapped tokens. That means fragmented liquidity, higher risk, and more things that can break.
Wormhole’s NTT framework does the opposite. It lets RLUSD be natively issued and redeemed on each chain, while keeping one unified supply across all networks.
Ripplehttps://t.co/xT28LSFmJV pic.twitter.com/Ueushy5huf
— Wormhole (@wormhole) December 15, 2025
That matters.
It lowers bridge risk.
It improves capital efficiency.
And it makes RLUSD easier to use at scale.
For institutions, this is the difference between “interesting” and “usable.”
Why Layer-2s Are the Real Target
Ethereum Layer-2s exist to solve one problem: cost and speed.
Optimism and Base are already two of the busiest L2s in crypto. They’re where DeFi, payments, and enterprise pilots are happening right now.
Ink Chain and Unichain add future coverage. Ripple isn’t just building for today’s traffic. It’s planning for where Ethereum usage is heading next.
This makes RLUSD one of the first stablecoins designed to work natively across multiple Ethereum scaling networks.
That’s not accidental.
Institutions Are Pulling Stablecoins Forward
According to CoinDesk, Ripple’s expansion reflects growing institutional demand for stablecoins that work smoothly across chains but without cutting corners on compliance.
The timing lines up.
Visa recently launched a Stablecoins Advisory Practice to help banks and fintechs design stablecoin-based payment systems. Visa says there are now 130+ stablecoin-linked card programs globally, with annualized settlement volumes above $3.5 billion.
Stablecoins aren’t experimental anymore. They’re becoming payment rails.
The Bigger Strategy Behind RLUSD
The global stablecoin market now tops $250 billion. Growth is shifting from “who launched first” to who integrates best.
Ripple’s Layer-2 push puts RLUSD in position to compete in:
- Cross-chain settlements
- Enterprise payments
- On-chain liquidity provisioning
The 2026 timeline suggests a phased approach. Infrastructure first. Compliance locked in. Partnerships next.
No hype. No shortcuts.
That’s very on-brand for Ripple—and in the stablecoin world, that approach usually wins.
