The XRP Ledger community is moving to scrap the XChainBridge amendment, known as XLS-38. This follows Ripple's decision to integrate the Axelar network for its EVM Sidechain, making the original bridging proposal redundant .
The 10,000-line liability of XLS-38
According to the report, removing the XChainBridge (XLS-38) framework would allow developers to eliminate over 10,000 lines of code from the XRP Ledger. Ripple argues that maintaining this dormant implementation has become a liability rather than an asset, as the primary use case that drove its development is no longer relevant.
The XRP Ledger community is now pursuing a simplification strategy to reduce the maintenance burden on the network. By stripping out the unnecessary XLS-38 code, the network can operate with a leaner architecture , potentially reducing the surface area for bugs or security vulnerabilities associated with unused features.
Axelar's 50-blockchain reach replaces native bridging
The shift occurs because Ripple selected the Axelar network to power the XRPL EVM Sidechain in June 2024. As reported, the Axelar network provides a more robust solution, supporting interoperability with more than 50 different blockchain networks and utilizing a security model backed by over 75 validators.
This move reflects a broader trend in the cryptocurrency industry where projects are abandoning the "build-it-yourself" approach to bridging in favor of specialized interoperability layers. by leveraging Axelar, the XRP Ledger avoids the immense technical overhead of maintaining its own native bridging framework while gaining immediate access to a vast ecosystem of existing chains.
Ripple's single validator vote and the XLS-38 withdrawal
Despite Ripple's desire to remove the feature, the company cannot unilaterally dictate the change because Ripple controls only one validator vote on the XRP Ledger. The withdrawal of the XChainBridge amendment must instead proceed through the network's standard, decentralized amendment process , requiring community consensus.
This governance hurdle underscores the distinction between Ripple, the company, and the XRP Ledger, the decentralized network. While Ripple provides the technical impetus and the strategic direction for the EVM Sidechain, the final decision to prune the XLS-38 code rests with the wider community of validators.
Which developers still rely on the XChainBridge framework?
A critical unknown remains regarding how many third-party developers have already built tools around the XLS-38 specification. Ripple has explicitly asked any developers currently building with XChainBridge to present their specific use cases, suggesting that the decision to withdraw the amendment could be reversed if a compelling need is identified.
It remains unclear whether any developers will step forward with a use case that outweighs the benefit of removing 10,000 lines of code. Furthermore, the source does not specify the exact deadline for these developers to submit their arguments before the community vote proceeds to a final conclusion.
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