Ripple CTO Teases Another XRP Ecosystem as XRP Ledger Gets Biggest Upgrade Since 2013

Ripple is implementing a major upgrade to the XRP Ledger (XRPL), its first significant change since 2013, adding what it calls "native programmability". This allows developers to customize existing XRPL features like decentralized exchange (DEX), escrows, and native tokens, with small code additions called "extensions," without changing the underlying system. The first feature to use this is "Smart Escrows," which enables complex conditions for releasing escrowed funds, like requiring a specific NFT or completion of a prior escrow. This is intended to offer tailored solutions for financial and other industries. Other "Smart" features like AMMs (automated market makers), accounts, and tokens are planned. XRPL will also introduce Smart Contracts, similar to Ethereum's, operating on pseudo-accounts and using a new function, while maintaining compatibility with existing XRPL functions. An EVM sidechain, enabling Ethereum developers to use the XRPL, is still planned. The roadmap for this includes a Smart Escrows developer network in Q1, a test environment in Q2, and a community vote to enable it in Q3, followed by a Smart Contracts developer network in Q4. Fees on the sidechain will be paid using a form of XRP, and Ripple's CTO describes this as another XRP ecosystem.