Ripple Expands RLUSD Cross-Chain on Ethereum Layer 2s (Optimism, Base, Kraken’s Ink, Unichain) With Wormhole NTT; Pilot Underway, Wider Rollout Next Year Pending NYDFS Approval

In a move aligning with cross-chain expansion, Ripple is extending RLUSD onto prominent Ethereum Layer 2 ecosystems, including Optimism, Base, Kraken Ink, and Unichain. The update, reported by Coindesk, outlines a phased rollout that hinges on regulatory clearance from the NYDFS.

The pilot will commence with a testing window before a broader deployment is contemplated next year, contingent on approval. Leveraging the Wormhole Native Token Transfer (NTT) standard, RLUSD will move across supported chains natively—without wrapping or synthetic assets—preserving liquidity while reducing friction and on-chain costs for a spectrum of DeFi use cases.

Industry participants will watch to gauge regulatory alignment and scalability, as the integration aims to improve cross-chain liquidity and regulatory control across Layer 2 networks, potentially enabling faster settlements and lower fees for RLUSD-enabled activities.