"XRP ( ) enters 2026 with years of infrastructure momentum behind it, but its price keeps stalling. Ripple has built payment corridors, secured regulatory clarity, and attracted institutional partners. Yet none of that translated into sustained on-chain activity or consistent price growth. XRP's smart contracts went live on AlphaNet on November 7, 2025, giving developers native Layer-1 capabilities for the first time. The XRP Ledger (XRPL) can now host DeFi applications-lending pools, liquidity protocols, and automated markets-that lock XRP into smart contracts instead of just moving it instantly between wallets."
"Smart contracts fill the programmability gap that's held XRPL back. The network handled payments efficiently but couldn't host the applications that pulled developers and liquidity toward Ethereum and Solana. Those ecosystems grew because they allowed markets, lending protocols, and automated trading to operate directly on-chain. XRPL never had that capability, so activity stayed limited to transfers. changes that. It introduces native smart contract tools that let developers build directly on the base chain without sidechains or external frameworks. These contracts tap into XRPL's existing features (automated market makers, decentralized exchanges, and escrow systems), giving builders room to create DeFi services that go beyond simple payments."
XRPL activated native smart contracts on AlphaNet on November 7, 2025, enabling developers to build Layer-1 DeFi applications that lock XRP into on-chain contracts. The network previously excelled at payments but lacked programmability, which limited lending, automated markets, and other DeFi activity and directed developers toward Ethereum and Solana. The new contracts integrate with XRPL features like automated market makers, decentralized exchanges, and escrow, lowering barriers for teams and creating paths to capture on-chain volume. Significant infrastructure, payment corridors, regulatory progress, and institutional partnerships have not yet produced sustained token demand or consistent price growth.
Read at 24/7 Wall St.
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