Ripple Labs is expanding the reach of its US dollar–backed stablecoin RLUSD to Ethereum layer-2 networks, signaling a deeper push toward a multichain future for regulated digital dollars. The move comes as part of a pilot program launched while the company awaits regulatory approval for a broader rollout expected next year.
Under the pilot, RLUSD will be tested on several Ethereum layer-2 blockchains, Optimism, Base, Ink, and Unichain, in partnership with Wormhole.
Wormhole’s technology allows digital assets to move seamlessly across blockchains, enabling Ripple to assess RLUSD’s performance across different scaling networks before its official debut.
RLUSD was initially issued on the XRP Ledger and Ethereum. According to Ripple, expanding to layer-2 networks is a critical step toward building a more scalable, efficient, and interoperable stablecoin infrastructure that can support both institutional finance and the growing on-chain economy.
The company argues that as decentralized applications increasingly move to L2s for lower fees and faster transactions, regulated stablecoins must follow demand.
The pilot will leverage Wormhole’s Native Token Transfers (NTT) standard, which allows RLUSD to remain natively issued and controlled by Ripple while still moving liquidity across chains. Optimism is expected to act as a gateway into a broader L2 ecosystem, including Base, Ink, an Ethereum layer-2 developed by Kraken, and Unichain.
Ripple positions RLUSD as a compliance-first stablecoin built for real-world financial use cases. The token is issued under a trust company charter from the New York Department of Financial Services, providing bank-level oversight.
Ripple has also applied for a charter from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which would give RLUSD both state and federal regulatory coverage.
Beyond the US, Ripple has highlighted growing regulatory recognition in international hubs such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi, reflecting its broader compliance strategy. The company says it plans to expand RLUSD to additional blockchains next year, subject to final regulatory approvals.
The pilot underscores Ripple’s belief that stablecoins are a gateway to decentralized finance and institutional adoption, and that their future lies across multiple interoperable blockchains rather than a single network.