Ripple Plans to Introduce Smart Contracts on XRP Ledger Next Year

Ripple has announced plans to enhance the programmability of the XRP Ledger by introducing smart contracts next year.

Currently under review, the introduction of XRPL Hooks will pave the way for integrating smart contracts into the main network.

Ripple’s goal is to make these contracts permissionless, user-friendly, and customizable, while minimizing infrastructure costs and performance impact. However, specific details on how smart contracts will be implemented in the XRP Ledger are still limited.

Former Ripple developer relations director Matt Hamilton noted that work on smart contracts began as early as December 2022. Additionally, in 2020, ex-CTO Stefan Thomas mentioned a smart contract prototype for XRP Ledger, which was paused due to concerns about feasibility and security. The team has also faced challenges in choosing the right programming language for the contracts.

Furthermore, the XRPL EVM sidechain, which allows developers to build decentralized applications (dApps) by leveraging both XRPL and EVM strengths, is anticipated soon. This sidechain was first announced by the RippleX team in June.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has emphasized that the cryptocurrency infrastructure supporting real-world applications is continuously becoming stronger. Earlier this year, XRP Ledger also introduced a new Automatic Market Maker (AMM) feature to bolster its presence in the DeFi space.

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