Cardano is making a bold move to bridge the gap between its ecosystem and Ripple’s XRP community. Charles Hoskinson, Cardano’s founder, has confirmed that a comprehensive XRP integration package is in development, targeting several key areas: the Glacier airdrop, XRP DeFi access, and the potential onboarding of Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin 2 3.
What’s in the Cardano-XRP Integration Package?
• Glacier Airdrop for XRP Holders
The upcoming Glacier airdrop, now scheduled for late 2025, will distribute Midnight tokens—used on Cardano’s privacy-focused sidechain—to retail users across multiple blockchains, including XRP holders. This initiative is designed to reward everyday users, not just large investors, and aims to foster a more inclusive, cross-chain crypto environment. Approximately 37 million wallets, including those holding XRP, are expected to be eligible for this airdrop.
• XRP Support in Lace Wallet
Cardano’s Lace wallet, known for its multi-chain capabilities, is set to add native XRP support. This upgrade will allow users to manage XRP alongside ADA and Bitcoin, making asset management more seamless and positioning Cardano as a true multi-chain platform 1 2 3. The move follows the recent addition of Bitcoin support to Lace, further expanding its reach.
• XRP DeFi Access via Midnight
One of the most significant aspects of this package is the plan to bring XRP into Cardano’s DeFi ecosystem. By bridging XRP tokens to Midnight, Cardano’s privacy-focused sidechain, XRP holders will gain access to yield farming, staking, and liquidity pools—features not natively available on the XRP Ledger 4. This integration could offer XRP holders higher yields and new ways to participate in decentralized finance, leveraging Cardano’s robust DeFi infrastructure.
• RLUSD Stablecoin Discussions
Talks are underway to bring Ripple’s RLUSD, a U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin, to the Cardano network. While still in early stages, both Cardano and Ripple see value in expanding RLUSD’s reach, which could boost liquidity and activity within Cardano’s DeFi landscape. RLUSD currently operates on Ethereum and the XRP Ledger, but Cardano could soon join that list.
Why Does This Matter?
This initiative marks a significant step toward interoperability in the crypto space. By connecting Cardano and XRP, two of the industry’s largest communities, the project aims to break down barriers and offer users more flexibility and opportunity. The focus on retail users, cross-chain DeFi, and stablecoin integration signals a maturing market where collaboration is prioritized over competition.
“There is a whole XRP package with the glacier drop, Lace wallet support, XRP DeFi, and the RealUSD talks,” said Charles Hoskinson, highlighting the scale of the effort.
While timelines for some features remain open, the commitment to cross-chain collaboration is clear. As the Glacier airdrop approaches and technical integrations progress, both Cardano and XRP holders can look forward to a more connected and versatile blockchain experience.
