**XRP Ledger Smart Contracts Now Available for Developer Testing on AlphaNet**
Denis Angell, a software engineer at XRPL Labs and Xahau, has announced that the XRP Ledger Smart Contracts feature is now accessible for developers to explore and test on AlphaNet, a dedicated development network. This important milestone introduces native Layer-1 smart contract capabilities to the XRP Ledger, combining EVM-style contracts with XRPL’s native features and transactions.
Just like on other blockchains, Smart Contracts will empower developers to build decentralized applications (dApps) directly on the XRP Ledger. The first extension, called “Smart Escrows,” will give developers the ability to write custom release conditions for escrows. This feature is expected to be released in Q1, 2026.
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**A New Era of Programmability for XRP Ledger**
XRPL Smart Contracts mark a transformative shift for ledger programmability. Unlike traditional approaches, the new XRPL Smart Contracts do not require approval from a UNL (Unique Node List) and provide direct access to all XRPL features and primitives. These smart contracts promise efficient execution and support multiple programming languages.
Developers will also benefit from on-chain ABIs (human-readable interface definitions) stored directly on the ledger. This unlocks numerous use case possibilities, including:
– Cross-chain bridges that enable integration with new bridging protocols.
– DeFi protocols, including derivatives, perpetuals, and advanced trading systems.
– Token utilities for staking rewards with issued tokens.
– Governance systems supporting on-chain voting and proposal mechanisms.
– Decentralized gaming logic and asset management.
– Custom rules for NFT marketplaces.
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**XRP Ledger Achieves 99.999% Uptime and Record Growth**
The XRP Ledger continues to demonstrate exceptional reliability, recently surpassing a record 100 million ledgers, with the current ledger count at 100,076,708. According to on-chain analytics platform Santiment, November saw a surge of 21,595 new XRP wallets created in just 48 hours—the highest level of growth in eight months.
Crypto influencer X reports that the XRP Ledger has maintained an uptime of approximately 99.999%, with a total downtime of only about 74 minutes over its 13.4-year history. Since its launch in June 2012, the XRP Ledger has experienced just two brief outages: one on November 25, 2024, due to a software bug (around 10 minutes), and another on February 4, 2025, from a consensus freeze (64 minutes).
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The launch of XRPL Smart Contracts on AlphaNet represents a significant leap forward for the XRP Ledger, offering exciting new opportunities for developers and further cementing the ledger’s reputation for reliability and innovation.
https://bitcoinethereumnews.com/tech/xrp-ledger-reveals-major-smart-contract-milestone-details/