What is the XRP Ledger?
Reviewed by AllAboutXRP Editorial on August 24, 2026
Quick Answer
The XRP Ledger (XRPL) is an open-source, decentralized blockchain that serves as the foundation for XRP. It features a built-in decentralized exchange, native NFT support, and a consensus protocol that settles transactions in seconds without mining.
The XRP Ledger is an open-source public ledger launched in 2012. It records XRP transactions and supports issued assets, an order-book exchange, escrows, payment channels, automated market makers, and native NFT objects.
Consensus and governance
XRPL does not use proof-of-work mining or proof-of-stake rewards. Servers evaluate transactions and validators participate in consensus. Protocol changes are introduced as amendments and require sustained validator support before activation. The XRPL documentation and consensus rules are the primary references.
What to verify
Claims about speed, fees, reserves, validator counts, uptime, transaction totals, or ecosystem projects are time-sensitive. They should be measured from a named server or dated official source. An explorer's address label is provider enrichment, not canonical ledger identity.
Native support also does not mean every feature is risk-free. Issued assets carry issuer risk, AMM liquidity can lose value, and NFT transfer fees are optional settings rather than universal royalty enforcement. The protocol defines available mechanics, while applications and users determine how they are used.