RippleX, the developer arm of Ripple, is prototyping zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) capabilities for the XRP Ledger (XRPL), positioning the expertise as a path to “programmable privateness,” trust-minimized interoperability, and a scaling mannequin that pushes heavy computation to layer-2 techniques whereas preserving XRPL because the settlement layer.
In Episode 9 of Ripple’s “Onchain Economic system” video collection, Aanchal Malhotra, Ph.D., Head of Analysis at RippleX, framed ZK enablement as a near-term analysis precedence and a long-horizon wager on XRPL’s competitiveness. “I would love to see an XRP ledger with zero data proof expertise enabled. There are such a lot of use circumstances. There are such a lot of progressive functions that we will construct utilizing this expertise. So my primary precedence proper now’s to work on enabling zero data proofs on XRP ledger,” Malhotra stated.
What Ripple Is Planning With ZK-Proofs
Malhotra additionally harassed that integrating fashionable ZK techniques into XRPL shouldn’t be a easy plug-in train. “We’re getting previous the exploration section of zero data applied sciences. When the XRP ledger was constructed, these applied sciences weren’t even round. So it takes some time. We can’t simply use any off-the-shelf answer. It takes some time for us to determine the specifics of ZK expertise to combine with XRP ledger,” she stated, describing the work as transferring from exploratory analysis into prototyping.
That prototyping effort, in line with RippleX’s Head of Analysis, is taking a hybrid type. Some parts of ZK proofs can be applied “natively for higher efficiency,” whereas one other portion would sit in a “programmability layer” to let builders select proving techniques and construct functions tuned to their necessities.
The objective, she indicated, is a design that balances throughput and developer flexibility relatively than forcing a single ZK stack throughout all use circumstances. “We’re on the stage of prototyping zero data proof,” Malhotra stated, including that the strategy is meant to assist “completely different functions [and] completely different proving techniques.”
A lot of Malhotra’s framing is centered on privateness, particularly, a model that may fulfill compliance and enterprise constraints with out collapsing into blanket opacity. “For my part, zero data proofs is a really very highly effective instrument. Once we discuss privateness, folks take into consideration 100% privateness the place the whole lot is hidden […] and people issues may very well be utilized in nefarious methods,” she stated.
“Nonetheless, what blockchains allow is one thing referred to as programmable privateness […] you are able to do selective disclosure which means disclose the related data to 3rd events for instance auditors for compliance functions.” In her instance, a person may show they’re above a threshold, reminiscent of being over 18, with out revealing the underlying information like an actual age.
Malhotra additionally pointed to interoperability as a site the place ZK strategies may cut back reliance on trusted intermediaries. She characterised bridges as “fraught with technical challenges,” with belief being the largest: at the moment’s designs usually rely on third events, federators, or different centralized constructions. “What zero data proofs present is trustlessness. It supplies verifiability. So you do not have to belief a 3rd get together. As an alternative what you belief in is cryptography,” she stated.
Zero-knowledge proofs will drive breakthroughs in privateness and compute scalability.
Watch Episode 9 of the Onchain Economic system: https://t.co/joOV5Uj7uU@aanchalmalhotreHead of Analysis at RippleX, explains how zero-knowledge proofs allow programmable privateness on XRP, supporting… pic.twitter.com/oCSBYAitY6
— RippleX (@RippleXDev) January 18, 2026
On scaling, Malhotra described a mannequin the place ZK proofs assist compress or externalize execution: layer-2 techniques carry out computation, then submit succinct proofs that may be verified on XRPL. That, in her telling, lets the bottom layer concentrate on settlement and proof verification relatively than working each workload straight. The sensible implication is an structure the place XRPL may assist extra complicated functions with out forcing all computation onto the L1.
At press time, XRP traded at $1,976.
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