XRPL Network Upgrade: Ripple CTO Responds to Activity Surge
XRPL Faces Growing Pains, Ripple CTO Steps In
The XRP Ledger (XRPL) is experiencing a period of rapid expansion, prompting Ripple CTO David Schwartz to initiate a significant infrastructure upgrade. July 2025 saw over 70 million transactions on the 13-year-old blockchain, highlighting its sustained relevance and adoption.
Network Growth & Activity
- More than 7 million XRPL accounts are now active, with new accounts being created at a rate of approximately 3,000 per day.
- Daily transaction volume averages 1.8 million, placing XRPL among the top blockchains in terms of activity.
- Cross-chain activity between XRPL and EVM sidechains has reached $165 million.
Infrastructure Upgrade Details
Schwartz announced plans to launch a high-performance server hub in a New York datacenter. This initiative aims to provide a secure, enterprise-level XRPL node for validators and applications. The server will feature:
- AMD 9950X CPU
- 256 GB RAM
- Dual 2TB NVMe SSD in RAID 0
- 10 GB unmetered connection
The primary goals are maximizing uptime and gathering comprehensive network performance data.
Decentralization & Institutional Adoption
While this server will be managed independently, it reflects Ripple's commitment to strengthening the decentralized XRPL ecosystem. Despite Ripple's partnerships with over 300 banks, much of the institutional activity remains off-chain due to compliance costs and regulatory uncertainty.
Schwartz noted that many institutions prefer custodial or licensed gateways over direct DEX transactions due to risk management considerations. Future developments like permissioned domains could bridge this gap, enabling institutions to migrate more activities on-chain.
XRPL's Growing DeFi Presence
XRPL's automated market maker (AMM) volume reached 408 million XRP (up 17%), while DEX volume hit 465 million XRP (up 21%) in the past month. The number of daily DEX traders averaged 2,363, and XRP trading pairs increased to nearly 500.
Cross-Chain Interoperability
XRPL's interoperability is demonstrated by cross-chain flows with the EVM sidechain developed with Axelar. Over 12,000 transfers, valued at more than $165 million, have occurred between these chains in the last month, showcasing the network's expanding ecosystem.