XRP Ledger Overview

The XRP Ledger (XRPL) is a decentralized, open-source blockchain launched in June 2012. It was designed specifically for fast, low-cost payments and value transfers, and is the underlying technology powering the XRP cryptocurrency.

Key Facts About the XRP Ledger

Speed: XRPL settles transactions in approximately 3–5 seconds, making it one of the fastest blockchain networks for final settlement.

Cost: Transaction fees start at 0.00001 XRP (10 drops), less than $0.0001 USD, making XRPL one of the cheapest blockchains to use.

Capacity: Under normal conditions, XRPL can process around 1,500 transactions per second, with practical throughput of 200+ transactions per ledger closing every 3–5 seconds.

Validators: XRPL uses the XRP Ledger Consensus Protocol, where a network of trusted validators — operated by universities, exchanges, financial institutions, and individuals — reach agreement on transaction validity. There are no miners.

Built-In Features

Beyond simple XRP payments, the XRP Ledger includes native support for:

• Decentralized Exchange (DEX) — Trade tokens directly on-chain without a centralized intermediary.
• Escrow — Lock XRP for conditional or time-based release.
• Payment Channels — Enable high-volume, off-ledger micropayments.
• Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) — Issue and transfer NFTs natively on XRPL.
• Issued Currencies — Any entity can issue tokens (stablecoins, IOUs) on the ledger.

XRP Supply and Distribution

100 billion XRP were created at genesis. No more can ever be created. Ripple, the company, holds a significant portion in escrow, releasing up to 1 billion XRP per month for operations, ecosystem development, and sales. Any unused monthly allocation is returned to escrow. Currently, the XRP Ledger has more than 7.7 million non-empty wallets, an all-time high.