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Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer, David Schwartz, has confirmed that serious discussions are underway to modernize and modularize the XRP Ledger (XRPL)—one of the oldest and most trusted blockchains in the crypto world. At the center of this transformation is a potential rewrite of XRPL’s code in Rust, a programming language known for safety and performance.
This move, while still in early stages, could mark the biggest technical change in XRPL’s history. But for everyday XRP holders and users, nothing about using or holding XRP would change.
Why Is Ripple Considering a Rewrite?
Right now, XRPL runs on a codebase written in C++, a language that has served well over the years but is showing its age. The ledger’s current structure is monolithic, meaning all parts—from the consensus engine to transaction handling—are tightly connected. This makes it hard to upgrade, fix bugs, or test new features.
Schwartz and the development team believe a modular system would be better. That means breaking up the code into smaller, manageable parts, each with its own function. In software development, modular design makes updates easier, improves testing, and boosts overall system flexibility.
Why Rust?
Rust is gaining popularity in the blockchain world because it’s:
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Safe: Rust prevents many common bugs found in C++.
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Fast: It runs close to the hardware speed, which is ideal for blockchain.
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Modern: Rust supports clean, modular code that’s easier to maintain.
Schwartz even admitted, “If I had to start XRPL from scratch today, I’d do it in Rust.”
What Will Change for XRP Holders?
Nothing, really.
Ripple’s team was clear: even if the XRPL is rewritten in Rust or parts of it are modularized into separate engines (like virtual machines), the on-chain data and user experience won’t be affected. You won’t lose any XRP, and your apps or wallets will keep working the same.
Mayukha Vadari, a senior developer at RippleX, explained:
“If rippled was rewritten in Rust… it wouldn’t do anything to the on-chain data. Everything about using and building on the XRPL would stay the same.”
What’s the Plan?
Instead of jumping into a full rewrite, Schwartz supports a step-by-step approach:
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Formal Specifications: Start by clearly documenting how current systems (like the payment engine) work. This would help avoid confusion or unexpected behavior during the transition.
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Modularization: Gradually break parts of the code into modules or run them in virtual machines (VMs), making it easier to test and upgrade individual sections.
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Hybrid System: Eventually, XRPL might run both the old and new versions together during the transition.
Some of these proposals even come from third-party developers, which shows growing community involvement in XRPL’s future.
Developer Community Feedback
The conversation has also sparked a broader discussion about standardization in XRPL’s development. Some developers, like @xrp_hodl_r, pointed out inconsistent naming formats in APIs and suggested standard rules to reduce confusion and maintenance costs.
Vadari responded by emphasizing that backward compatibility remains key. Changing names or formats without breaking existing apps is a challenge. API versioning, she noted, is already in place to manage these upgrades without causing disruptions.
Challenges Ahead
While the idea of a Rust-based, modular XRPL is exciting, Schwartz admits it’s not an easy task. “It’s just not easy at all,” he said. “But it would be a win all around.”
So far, no final decisions have been made, but what’s clear is that Ripple is seriously exploring the future of XRPL with a modern mindset.
Final Thoughts
The XRPL has been running strong for over a decade, but technology never stands still. A modular redesign in Rust could bring better performance, faster upgrades, and safer code to the XRP Ledger—all without disrupting users or applications.
As of now, it’s just a discussion, but with leaders like David Schwartz pushing for innovation, XRPL may soon enter a new era of speed, safety, and developer-friendly design.
