Ripple expands RLUSD to Layer-2 networks

Layer-2 networks are blockchains built on top of a base chain, such as Ethereum. They exist to process transactions faster and more cheaply, while still relying on the underlying network for security.

Popular Layer 2s are where a large share of stablecoin activity, trading, and on-chain applications now reside.

Ripple announced that its U.S. dollar stablecoin, RLUSD, is expanding beyond its initial chains to several Ethereum Layer-2 networks, including Optimism, Base, Ink, and Unichain.

The goal is to make RLUSD usable in the environments where most stablecoin activity actually occurs, without forcing users to manually move funds or sell into another asset.

The expansion uses Wormhole, a cross-chain infrastructure provider that has historically focused on moving assets and messages between blockchains.

Instead of creating separate wrapped versions of RLUSD on each chain, Wormhole's model allows the same token to move between networks while maintaining a consistent supply.

RLUSD was already available on the XRP Ledger and Ethereum. Extending it to Layer-2s is about distribution and access, not changing what the asset is. It lets the same dollar-backed token operate across multiple ecosystems while remaining governed by a single issuer.