Currently under XEM , the introduction of XRPL Hooks will pave the way for the integration of smart contracts into the Primary Network.
Ripple ’s goal is to make these contracts permissionless, easy to use and customize, while minimizing infrastructure costs and performance impact. However, specific details on how smart contracts will be deployed on the XRP Ledger are still limited.
Former Ripple developer relations director Matt Hamilton noted that work on smart contracts began in December 2022. Additionally, in 2020, former CTO Stefan Thomas mentioned a smart contract prototype for the XRP Ledger, but the project was put on hold due to feasibility and security concerns. The team also struggled to choose the right programming language for the contracts.
Additionally, the XRPL EVM sidechain, which allows developers to build Decentralized Applications by leveraging the power of both XRPL and EVM, is expected to launch soon. This sidechain was first announced by the RippleX team in June.
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has emphasized that the crypto infrastructure supporting real-world applications is becoming increasingly robust. Earlier this year, XRP Ledger also introduced a new Automatic Market Maker (AMM) feature to boost its presence in the DeFi space.
