XRPL EVM Sidechain Reaches 1 Million Testnet Blocks Milestone

# XRP Ledger EVM-Compatible Sidechain Reaches 1 Million Blocks on Testnet An Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)-compatible sidechain operating on the XRP Ledger (XRPL) has surpassed 1 million blocks on its testnet, marking a milestone in blockchain development. This sidechain, designed to boost XRPL’s scalability and add smart contract functionality, achieved this feat as reported by Catalyze on October 7. The XRPL EVM testnet has recorded over 1 million cumulative blocks, 700,000 transactions, and 16,000 accounts, reflecting active community involvement. # XRPL's Evolution from Payments to On-Chain Applications XRPL has been renowned for its swift transaction speeds and low fees, predominantly used in global payments and remittance services. However, the absence of native smart contract capabilities has restricted its potential for broader on-chain applications. To overcome this, XRPL has integrated technology from Axelar, a leader in cross-chain interoperability. Axelar’s decentralized protocol enables smooth message transmission between chains and supports inter-application calls, significantly enhancing XRPL's smart contract functionalities. # Sidechain Connecting Over 70 Blockchain Networks The XRPL sidechain currently connects with over 70 blockchain networks, including Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), and Cosmos (ATOM). By aligning with Ethereum’s ecosystem, the sidechain empowers developers to create and operate decentralized applications (dApps) on XRPL, fostering potential growth. This sidechain also promotes the development of cross-chain financial services and integrated multi-chain applications. For users, managing assets and data across various blockchain networks becomes more seamless, signaling a significant advancement in XRPL's role in blockchain technology.