XRP (XRP) is the open-source distributed ledger that is created by Ripple. The native cryptocurrency of the XRP Ledger is XRP. It is a fast and green digital asset that was built to be the most practical cryptocurrency for applications across the financial services space.
What is the XRP Ledger?
XRP Ledger (XRPL) is the open-source distributed ledger that is created by Ripple. The native cryptocurrency of the XRP Ledger is XRP.
Compared to Bitcoin (BTC) which uses a distributed blockchain whose transactions are processed and secured by proof-of-work mining, XRP transactions are processed by a network of trusted validators on the XRP Ledger.
Ripple transactions are publicly recorded on its open-source distributed consensus ledger which has a similar data structure to a blockchain where the successive data block includes the hash of the previous block. However, its consensus mechanism is different from Bitcoin or Ethereum. It does not rely on Proof of Work (PoW) and therefore there is no mining involved with XRP.
XRP instead relies on a consensus algorithm known as the Ripple Protocol Consensus Algorithm. The XRPL’s integrity is maintained by a group of trusted nodes. All transactions must be agreed by a supermajority of these trusted nodes for it to achieve consensus and be included in the XRP Ledger.
Who created Ripple?
Ripple was first started in 2004 by Ryan Fugger, who developed the first version of Ripple, called RipplePay. n 2012, Fugger handed it to Jed McCaleb and Chris Larsen, where they co-founded OpenCoin. In 2013, OpenCoin then rebranded to Ripple Labs Incorporated. In 2016, Ripple Labs rebranded to Ripple. Chris is currently the Executive Chairman of Ripple.
Jed McCaleb was previously the founder of Mt. Gox, the first Bitcoin exchange. He had a falling out with the Ripple team and forked the Ripple codebase to start Stellar. He is currently the CTO of Stellar.
Brad Garlinghouse is currently the CEO of Ripple.
What Makes XRPL Unique?
The XRP Ledger presents a wide variety of applications and use cases related to payments including micropayments, DeFi, and, soon, NFTs. Deployed in 2012, the XRPL supports enterprises and Python, Java and JavaScript developers with powerful utility and flexibility. On the XRP website, developers can access different tutorials to help them get started using different coding languages, building apps, managing accounts and more.
Alongside its native coin, XRP, the XRP Ledger is used by developers to create solutions that solve inefficiencies, including remittance and asset tokenization. Currently, the five main applications of the XRP Ledger are payments, tokenization, DeFi, CBDCs and stablecoins.
Why should I use XRP?
There are many currencies that can't be converted directly to each other. For example, if you want to convert currency A to currency B, you will need to do a double conversion: Currency A to USD and USD to Currency B. In this case, USD is the mediator that acts as a global bridge that connects different fiat currencies from the originators to the beneficiaries. XRP holds the same role but it is much cheaper than USD. The cost of a transaction on the Ripple protocol is about 0.00001 XRP and currently, 1 XRP price is at ~$0.15, which would cost you next to nothing.
How Is the XRP Ledger Network Secured?
Unlike Bitcoin or Ethereum, the XRPL uses a unique Federated Consensus mechanism as its method of validating transactions. Transactions are confirmed on the XRPL through a consensus protocol, in which designated independent servers called validators come to an agreement on the order and outcome of XRP transactions. All servers in the network process each transaction according to the same rules, and any transaction that follows the protocol is confirmed right away. All transactions are public and transparent, and anyone can operate a validator. There are currently over 150 validators on the ledger, operated by universities, exchanges, businesses, and individuals around the world.
Through the Federated Consensus mechanism, all verified transactions can be processed without a single point of failure as no single participant makes a decision independently.
How does XRP Ledger reach a consensus if there is no mining?
XRPL uses a different set of rules called the Ripple Consensus Protocol Algorithm (RCPA). The RCPA defines how XRPL is managed by a network of independent Ripple validator nodes. Any Ripple transaction needs to be verified by at least 80% of the nodes on the network.
Anyone can become a validator. However, Ripple maintains a given set of validators that can be trusted. This trusted list of nodes is called the Unique Node List (UNL).
If Alice wants to send 1,000 Japanese Yen to her cousin Bob in India, Alice could send it to the participating financial institutions. The JPY will be converted to XRP and will be validated by the servers in the network. Bob could withdraw the money in Indian Rupee once validated. The remittance can be done within seconds.
