Ripple has expanded its U.S.-regulated stablecoin, Ripple USD [RLUSD], to Layer 2 networks for the first time. This marks a major step toward a multichain strategy ahead of its full launch next year.
The testing rollout begins on Optimism, Base, Ink, and Unichain, and is powered by Wormhole’s Native Token Transfers [NTT] standard — a system designed to move assets across chains without relying on wrapped tokens or traditional bridge architectures.
The move positions RLUSD as the first U.S. Trust-regulated stablecoin to deploy natively on these L2 ecosystems.
RLUSD goes multichain with native issuance on L2s
Unlike bridged assets, Wormhole’s NTT framework enables RLUSD to maintain native issuance and control across every supported chain.
This approach reduces bridge risk, preserves liquidity integrity, and creates a regulatory-compliant pathway for institutional DeFi expansion.
According to the announcement, Optimism serves as the entry point, with Base, Ink, and Unichain interconnected through the same NTT infrastructure — allowing Ripple to scale RLUSD across multiple environments without fragmentation.
Ripple’s SVP of Stablecoin, Jack McDonald, said the expansion reflects rising institutional demand for a fully compliant stablecoin that can move across chains with predictable oversight.
“Stablecoins are the gateway to DeFi and institutional adoption,” he said. “By launching RLUSD on these L2 networks, we are setting the standard where compliance and on-chain efficiency converge.”
Why regulation matters more than ever
RLUSD launched under a New York Department of Financial Services [NYDFS] Trust Charter, one of the most stringent regulatory frameworks in crypto.
Last week, AMBCrypto also reported that Ripple has applied for an OCC charter. If approved, this would make RLUSD the first stablecoin simultaneously overseen at both the state and federal levels.
No existing major stablecoin, including USDC or USDT, operates under this dual structure.
Ripple now holds more than 75 licenses globally, with recent approvals in Dubai and Abu Dhabi further strengthening RLUSD’s international reach.
Utility boost for both Ripple XRP and RLUSD
The multichain expansion is designed to strengthen XRP’s role in cross-chain liquidity.
Hex Trust recently issued wrapped XRP [wXRP] to support interoperability, enabling XRP holders to pair wXRP with RLUSD on supported chains for swaps, payments, lending, or yield-generating applications.
Data from DefilLama shows that Ethereum currently has the highest share of RLUSD [79.2%] worth over $1 billion, while the remaining 20.8% is on XRPL.
Final Thoughts
- RLUSD’s L2 expansion sets a new regulatory benchmark for multichain stablecoins and positions Ripple as a direct challenger to USDC’s dominance.
- The move enhances utility for both XRP and RLUSD, creating a deeper role for Ripple in institutional DeFi and cross-chain liquidity.
