Phil Kwok, co-founder of EasyA, announced through a detailed tweet that the XRP Ledger EVM sidechain has officially gone live. He described this development as potentially significant for the XRP Ledger ecosystem. In his post, he explained the nature of the EVM sidechain, its purpose, and how it connects to the XRP Ledger. Kwok also referenced a discussion he had with Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer, David Schwartz, during a stage appearance in 2023, where they examined the concept and its long-term implications. the xrp ledger evm sidechain just went live. and this could be huge. but what exactly is it. and how does it drive value to the xrpl? i went on stage with @Ripple cto david schwartz last year. to talk about this. here’s everything you need to know pic.twitter.com/qkdXgwhyo3 — Phil Kwok | EasyA (@kwok_phil) June 30, 2025 The Backstory Behind the EVM Sidechain Kwok began by providing background on the XRP Ledger’s previous limitations. He pointed out that one of the key missing components of the XRP Ledger has been the absence of smart contract functionality. While he clarified that this absence was not necessarily a critical flaw and could even be considered a deliberate design choice, it remained a limitation that affected how developers could build on the network. The introduction of the EVM sidechain directly addresses this gap. According to Kwok, the EVM sidechain allows developers to write and deploy smart contracts tailored to their specific applications. These smart contracts do not operate directly on the XRP Ledger mainnet but function on a parallel blockchain that works with it. Kwok referred to this as a “sister blockchain” that complements rather than replaces the mainnet. Clarifying How the EVM Sidechain Interacts with XRP In his tweet, Kwok clarified an important aspect regarding how the EVM sidechain operates in relation to Ethereum . He stated unequivocally that the sidechain does not rely on Ethereum’s native currency. Instead, XRP serves as the primary asset powering the sidechain. The XRP Ledger mainnet functions as the central liquidity and payments hub for the ecosystem. Kwok emphasized that all activity on the sidechain eventually links back to the XRP Ledger mainnet. This ensures that the integrity and utility of the mainnet are maintained while allowing greater flexibility and programmability through the sidechain. He reaffirmed that XRP remains at the center of the network’s design and utility, even with this new technological expansion. Opportunities for Developers and the Ecosystem Phil Kwok expressed his optimism about the opportunities that the EVM sidechain creates for the XRP Ledger ecosystem. He described the sidechain as a potential gateway for new developers, serving as an entry point into the ecosystem. According to Kwok, this new framework offers a space for creativity, experimentation, and the development of decentralized applications that were previously not feasible on the XRP Ledger alone. He explained that his belief in this vision has been growing since his initial conversation with David Schwartz in Tokyo during the summer of 2023. For Kwok, the launch of the EVM sidechain signifies an ideal moment for developers to start building innovative financial solutions within the XRP Ledger environment. Encouragement to Learn and Build Kwok concluded his announcement by encouraging developers to take advantage of the educational tools available through the EasyA app. He urged individuals interested in contributing to the future of finance to begin learning how to build within the XRP Ledger ecosystem, highlighting that the EVM sidechain now makes it more accessible for developers with Ethereum-compatible skills to participate. The tweet by Phil Kwok presents the EVM sidechain as a milestone that not only resolves a long-standing technical limitation but also opens new pathways for growth, utility, and developer engagement within the XRP Ledger ecosystem. Disclaimer : This content is meant to inform and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author’s personal opinions and do not represent Times Tabloid’s opinion. Readers are advised to conduct thorough research before making any investment decisions. Any action taken by the reader is strictly at their own risk. Times Tabloid is not responsible for any financial losses. Follow us on X , Facebook , Telegram , and Google News The post Ripple CTO On How EVM Sidechain Drives Value to XRP Ledger appeared first on Times Tabloid .