mXRP is a liquid staking token and structured certificate for the XRP ecosystem, launched on September 22, 2025. It is designed to allow XRP holders to earn yield on their assets through a tokenized derivative that can be used in decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols. The product is a collaborative effort between the tokenization platform Midas and Interop Labs, a core developer of the interoperability protocol Axelar. ^{[6] [7] [4] [5] [6]}

Overview

mXRP was developed to address the issue of low capital utilization within the XRP ecosystem. At the time of its launch, it was estimated that over 80% of XRP's $180 billion market capitalization remained dormant due to a lack of native, scalable yield-generating opportunities. ^{[1] [6]} The token functions as the first liquid staking token (LST) for the XRP Ledger (XRPL), aiming to transform XRP from an asset primarily used for payments into a productive, yield-bearing instrument for DeFi. ^{[2] [4]}

Issued as an ERC-20 token on the XRPL's EVM-compatible sidechain, mXRP represents a user's share in a tokenized certificate structure. This structure tracks the performance of a portfolio of underlying on-chain and off-chain yield strategies managed by third-party asset managers. ^{[7] [5]} By tokenizing the staked position, mXRP remains liquid and composable, meaning it can be traded, lent, or used as collateral in other DeFi applications while the underlying XRP continues to earn a base yield. The project's creators intend for it to become a foundational element for the emerging DeFi ecosystem on the XRPL. ^[6]

Dennis Dinkelmeyer, Co-founder and CEO of Midas, stated, "Much of the XRP supply has been dormant for years; mXRP provides a transparent mechanism for users to access onchain strategies. With strong community demand and DeFi integrations, we believe mXRP can play a key role in unlocking new use cases for XRP." ^{[7] [4] [5]}

History

The mXRP token was officially launched on September 22, 2025. The launch was announced live on stage in Seoul, South Korea at the XRPL Seoul 2025 conference, an event attended by an audience of more than 3,000 XRP holders. ^{[7] [4] [5]} The project was presented as a joint initiative by Midas, Axelar, and Interop Labs to bring scalable, sustainable, and composable yield to the XRP community. ^[1]

Technology

Architecture

mXRP operates on the XRP Ledger's EVM-compatible sidechain. The native XRP Ledger was designed primarily for efficient payments and lacked the advanced smart contract capabilities necessary for complex DeFi applications. The introduction of the EVM sidechain, developed with support from RippleX, allows developers to deploy applications written in Solidity, enabling products like mXRP to integrate with the broader Ethereum-style DeFi ecosystem. ^[2] The mXRP token itself adheres to the ERC-20 standard, making it compatible with a wide range of DeFi protocols and wallets on the sidechain. ^[6]

Minting and Yield Generation

The process for a user to acquire mXRP and earn yield involves several steps facilitated by the project's infrastructure:

1. Bridging: A user first transfers their native XRP from the main XRP Ledger to the XRPL EVM sidechain. This cross-chain transfer is handled by Axelar's interoperability protocol. ^[2]
2. Depositing: The bridged XRP is then deposited as collateral into Midas's tokenized certificate structure through audited smart contracts. ^[7]
3. Minting: In return for the deposit, the user receives an equivalent amount of mXRP tokens, which represent their claim on the underlying staked XRP. ^[2]
4. Yield Deployment: The pooled XRP collateral is deployed into various on-chain and off-chain yield-generating strategies. The performance of these strategies accrues to the value of the mXRP token. ^{[7] [4]}

Interoperability

Axelar provides the core interoperability layer for mXRP, which is critical to the token's scalability. Its network acts as the bridge connecting the native XRP Ledger to the XRPL EVM sidechain, a function described as being the first and only DeFi connector for the XRPL at the time of launch. ^{[7] [5]} This infrastructure allows Axelar-bridged XRP to be used for gas fees, facilitating cross-chain liquidity aggregation. ^[6] The infrastructure is also designed to connect mXRP to the broader Axelar network, which includes over 80 other blockchains, potentially allowing for future cross-chain use cases. ^[1]

Georgios Vlachos, co-founder of the Axelar protocol and director at the Axelar Foundation, commented on the launch: "Axelar is the Gateway to Onchain Finance. By connecting the XRP Ledger to the world of DeFi for the first time, we are enabling compelling use cases, including tokenization and trading integrations. The mXRP token demonstrates the power of Axelar’s platform to deliver real-world applications, with security and configurability built in." ^{[7] [5]}

Strategy Management

The yield-generating strategies for the underlying XRP collateral are managed by external, third-party asset managers known as "risk curators." The initial risk curator for mXRP is Hyperithm, a firm specializing in crypto asset investment and risk management. ^{[6] [3]}

The strategies are designed to be market-neutral, meaning they aim to generate stable returns regardless of the directional price movements of XRP. These strategies include:

• Liquidity Provisioning: Supplying XRP to liquidity pools on decentralized exchanges (DEXs).
• Market-Neutral Arbitrage: Capitalizing on price discrepancies between different trading pairs or exchanges while hedging exposure.
• Collateralized Strategies: Using XRP as collateral for activities such as lending against stable assets. ^{[3] [4]}

Economic Model

Yield Generation

mXRP offers a base yield estimated at 6% to 8% APY, paid out in XRP. ^[6] The targeted net return, based on historical strategy performance and net of fees, is estimated at up to 10% APY, though this may vary over time. ^{[7] [4] [5]} It is projected that users who actively deploy their mXRP tokens in other DeFi protocols, in addition to holding them for the base yield, could achieve total annual returns exceeding 10%. ^{[6] [3]}

"Perpetual Buyer" Mechanism

A distinct feature of mXRP's economic model is its yield distribution method, described by Axelar co-founder Georgios Vlachos as making mXRP a "'perpetual buyer' of XRP." ^[6] The yield generated from the investment strategies is used to purchase additional XRP from the open market. This newly acquired XRP is then distributed to mXRP holders, a process intended to create continuous, structural buying pressure on the underlying asset. ^{[6] [6]}

Market Projections

At the time of launch, Georgios Vlachos projected that if mXRP's assets under management (AUM) were to reach $10 billion by June 2026, the perpetual buyer mechanism could generate approximately $700 million in annual buying pressure for XRP, assuming a 7% yield. He also noted that the introduction of mXRP was expected to significantly boost yields across the XRPL DeFi ecosystem. For example, the APY for providing XRP liquidity on platforms like Strobe Finance was projected to surpass 5%, a substantial increase from the sub-1% yields available prior to mXRP's launch. ^[6]

Ecosystem and Use Cases

DeFi Composability

As a liquid ERC-20 token, mXRP is designed for full integration within the XRPL EVM DeFi ecosystem. Its structure contrasts with traditional XRP yield products, such as those previously offered by platforms like Bitrue or Flare, which often functioned as static savings accounts and lacked composability. ^[6] Unlike products that lock up assets, mXRP can be freely transferred, traded, or utilized in other protocols. This composability allows holders to use it as collateral in lending markets, provide liquidity in DEX pools, or engage in other yield farming strategies, thereby creating multiple layers of potential returns. ^{[6] [1] [4]}

Market Context and Impact

mXRP enters a market with established liquid staking tokens on other blockchains, such as stETH on Ethereum (offering 3-4% APY) and jitoSOL on Solana (offering 5-7% APY). With a higher target yield of 6-8%, mXRP aims to be a competitive alternative while unlocking the large, untapped liquidity of the XRP market. ^[2]

The launch of mXRP reflects a strategic shift in XRP's role, moving it from primarily a cross-border settlement asset to a DeFi-native utility token. ^[6] The project is positioned to serve as a foundational liquidity source to bootstrap the growth of DeFi on the XRPL EVM sidechain and potentially attract institutional investors with a transparent, audited, yield-bearing instrument. This initiative aligns with broader trends in XRP's institutional adoption, which has included partnerships with banks in regions like Colombia, Brazil, and Singapore for testing XRP in cross-border payments and CBDC integration. ^{[6] [2]} By leveraging tokenization and cross-chain interoperability, mXRP could catalyze a feedback loop of liquidity and demand, positioning XRP as a core asset in the decentralized finance landscape. ^[6]

Key Participants

• Midas: The issuer of the mXRP tokenized certificate. Midas is described as a tokenization platform building institutional-grade financial products for the open web. It is backed by investors including Framework Ventures, BlockTower Capital, and GSR. At the time of the mXRP launch, the platform had over $1.2 billion in total value locked (TVL). ^{[7] [6] [4] [5]}
• Axelar and Interop Labs: Axelar is described as the "Gateway to Onchain Finance," providing the core cross-chain infrastructure and bridging technology for mXRP. Interop Labs is a core developer of the Axelar protocol and a key partner in the launch. ^{[7] [4] [5]}
• Hyperithm: The initial third-party "risk curator" responsible for executing and managing the market-neutral yield strategies for the underlying XRP collateral. ^[3]
• RippleX: While not a direct creator of mXRP, Ripple's developer arm, RippleX, was instrumental in developing the foundational XRPL EVM sidechain technology that enables the existence of complex DeFi products like mXRP. ^[2]

Risks and Restrictions

Identified Risks

Several potential risks are associated with the mXRP product, stemming from its reliance on smart contracts, cross-chain technology, and active market strategies. These include:

• Smart Contract Risk: Vulnerabilities or bugs in the smart contracts of mXRP or the DeFi protocols it interacts with could lead to a loss of funds.
• Bridge Security Risk: Cross-chain bridges are historically a common target for exploits, posing a risk to assets being transferred between the XRP Ledger and the EVM sidechain.
• Yield Volatility: The targeted APY is an estimate and not guaranteed, as it depends on the performance of the underlying investment strategies, which can fluctuate.
• Liquidity Risk: The market-neutral strategies depend on sufficient market liquidity. A sudden decline in liquidity could negatively impact or "squeeze" yields.
• Counterparty and Operational Risk: The product's performance is dependent on its key partners, including third-party asset managers like Hyperithm for strategy execution and Axelar for bridging infrastructure. This introduces both counterparty and operational risks. ^[6]
• Regulatory Uncertainty: As a novel crypto-financial product, mXRP may face future regulatory scrutiny or changes in various jurisdictions. The regulatory status of XRP itself in key markets could also impact the adoption and legality of related products like mXRP. ^{[2] [3] [6]}

Geographic Restrictions

Midas employs a compliance-focused distribution model for its tokens, including mXRP. The product is not available to persons or entities located in the United States, the United Kingdom, or other sanctioned jurisdictions. ^{[6] [7] [5] [6]}