In This Article
Quick Highlights
- Institutional-grade RLUSD backed by USD deposits and Treasuries; launched Dec 17 2024.
- RLUSD trades at ~$1.00, featured on major platforms like Bitstamp, Bullish, and Uphold.
- Taps into XRP Ledger and Ethereum for fast, compliant payments and DeFi use.
What Is RLUSD?
RLUSD, short for Ripple USD — is a U.S. dollar–pegged stablecoin issued by Ripple, the same company behind XRP and its global payments infrastructure. Designed to be an enterprise-grade digital dollar, RLUSD is fully backed 1:1 by cash, U.S. Treasuries, and bank deposits, ensuring it maintains a stable $1 value at all times.
Unlike algorithmic stablecoins that collapsed in the past (e.g., TerraUSD), RLUSD is issued under strict regulations and monthly third-party audits. This transparency is a core part of Ripple’s strategy to build trust in an industry often plagued by uncertainty.
👉 In essence: RLUSD is Ripple’s answer to USDC and USDT, but with an institutional focus and regulatory oversight from the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS).
RLUSD Launch Date
Ripple officially launched RLUSD on December 17, 2024, after months of anticipation. The rollout marked a strategic milestone for the company, positioning it directly against Circle’s USDC and Tether’s USDT — the two dominant stablecoins in crypto today.
The timing is notable: RLUSD entered the market just as demand for transparent, compliant stablecoins has surged among banks, fintechs, and institutional investors. Ripple also bolstered its credibility by forming an advisory board with former central bankers and regulators ahead of the launch.
RLUSD Price and Market Stability
As a stablecoin, the RLUSD price is designed to stay at $1.00, backed by dollar reserves and liquid assets. While most stablecoins maintain a peg, minor fluctuations (such as $0.999 or $1.001) can occur due to liquidity or exchange spreads.
Currently, RLUSD is trading stably around $1, with steady early volume on exchanges like Bitstamp, Uphold, Bullish, and CoinMENA. Ripple’s strategy is to ensure that RLUSD becomes not only a trading pair for crypto investors but also a settlement tool for enterprises, remittances, and DeFi applications.
Where to Buy RLUSD
Ripple’s stablecoin is already available across multiple platforms:
- Exchanges: Bitstamp, Bullish, Uphold, CoinMENA, Archax
- Fiat on/off-ramps: MoonPay, Transak, Mercado Bitcoin (coming soon)
- Wallets: Xaman (formerly Xumm), Uphold wallet integration
This distribution shows Ripple’s intent to blend retail accessibility with enterprise use cases. By launching RLUSD on both the XRP Ledger (XRPL) and Ethereum (ERC-20), Ripple ensures compatibility with fast payments, decentralized finance (DeFi), and tokenized assets.
RLUSD vs. Competitors
The stablecoin space is currently dominated by USDT (Tether) and USDC (Circle), which together command over $140 billion in market cap. However, both have faced criticism: Tether for opaque reserves, and Circle for regulatory uncertainty.
Ripple aims to differentiate RLUSD by focusing on compliance-first design. While USDT thrives on offshore liquidity, RLUSD targets regulated institutions. Compared with USDC, RLUSD may gain an edge if Ripple secures its U.S. bank charter.
Final Thoughts
The crypto market has seen many stablecoins come and go — some trusted, others disastrous. With RLUSD, Ripple is betting on trust, transparency, and compliance as the winning formula. Whether it succeeds depends on adoption, regulation, and Ripple’s ability to bridge crypto with traditional finance.
For anyone asking: “What is RLUSD, when did it launch, what’s the price, and where to buy?” — the answers are now clear. The bigger question is: Will RLUSD become the stablecoin standard for the next era of digital finance?
