Charles Hoskinson, the Cardano founder, released new information about the possible integration of XRP and its related features on the Cardano blockchain.
Hoskinson replied with a wide-scope plan that is not limited to RLUSD. His comments followed a user’s inquiry about whether the Ripple-backed stablecoin RealUSD (RLUSD) would be available on Cardano.
He mentioned that a full “XRP package” is on the way, with plans for XRP DeFi integration, support for Lace wallet, “glacier drops,’ and ongoing talks about RealUSD. He did not make a fine point about timing, but his reply confirmed that high-level discussions were taking place.
Cardano gears up for XRP integration with RLUSD
As soon as RLUSD was mentioned, the cryptocurrency community went into overdrive, with many hoping for information on when they could access the stablecoin on the Cardano blockchain. However, Hoskinson’s reply suggests that RLUSD is part of the bigger plan, which involves all the other Ripple-related assets.
One term that emerged with greater prominence was “glacier drops.” While not commonly used in the space, the term refers to a controlled and staggered release of tokens or features — analogous to a focused airdrop effort pegged to product milestones.
Lace wallet support is also on the agenda. As Cardano’s official wallet was built emphasizing user experience, Lace’s integration with XRP would streamline access for users looking to manage Ripple-based assets within the Cardano ecosystem.
Equally significant is the mention of DeFi. Historically, XRP has had a limited role in decentralized finance. Its integration into Cardano’s smart contract infrastructure could unlock new use cases — such as lending, borrowing, and liquidity provision — potentially attracting more users and developers to the platform.
While no final decisions have been made public, Hoskinson’s remarks shed more light on Cardano’s dedication to interoperability, interest in stablecoin adoption, and interest in growing their presence in the DeFi space.
Through the integration of RLUSD, XRP DeFi utilities, advanced wallet features, and token drops, Cardano is gearing up to vie for its share of the competitive blockchain ecosystem.
If it works, this could be important for Cardano in expanding its ecosystem and offering itself a bit more than it is to an even larger crypto market.
Hoskinson proposes strategic investments to grow Cardano’s treasury
Hoskinson recently shared insight into what the Cardano community should expect regarding the ecosystem’s decentralized Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF). He gave the update in an 18-minute-long podcast on X to ecosystem members.
According to Hoskinson, the team is considering several approaches to improving and growing the Cardano SWF. He maintained that the goal is to use the fund’s resources to benefit the ecosystem.
Hoskinson explained that the decentralized Cardano SWF is similar in principle to how countries like Norway invest national wealth into assets for future benefits. He proposed investing a small portion of the Cardano treasury in different assets.
“Could we take about $100 million worth of ADA in the treasury, convert it to a blend of a collection of stablecoins … and also convert some of it to Bitcoin to prime the Bitcoin/DeFi?” he asked.
The plan aims to mitigate risk, create long-term yield, and reinvest the money into buying back ADA. This sets up Cardano’s Sovereign Wealth Fund to grow the ecosystem and, consequently, the value of ADA as time goes on.
Cardano could make relatively easy returns without significantly eating into its core reserves by dedicating a portion of the treasury to Bitcoin and similar assets. When used to acquire ADA, these profits may increase demand and sustain the market price. Charles Hoskinson describes an economic model designed to be self-sustaining for the Cardano community.
Cardano Founder Says Midnight is Going to Be the DeFi Layer of XRP
Hoskinson discussed this during a live AMA session, revealing that he wants Midnight, Cardano’s privacy-focused sidechain, to become the DeFi layer for the XRP ecosystem. This move would allow XRP holders and Ripple itself to access better DeFi yields without needing to move their tokens off the XRP Ledger.
Hoskinson believes XRP can stay true to its identity while still gaining access to advanced DeFi services. His goal centers on giving XRP users a chance to earn higher returns through features like staking, lending, and liquidity pools. These are options that XRP’s native chain doesn’t support because it lacks smart contract capabilities.
Midnight, the Cardano sidechain designed to protect user privacy through zero-knowledge cryptography, is at the center of this plan. Notably, Midnight lets users run confidential smart contracts and interact with DeFi applications without revealing sensitive data.
As the Cardano ecosystem connects Midnight to the XRP Ledger, it will present DeFi opportunities for XRP holders while keeping their assets safe on the native chain.
A Full XRP DeFi Package
Hoskinson’s plan is part of a broader push to build bridges between blockchain communities rather than create competition. Specifically, he wants Cardano and XRP to work side by side, with Midnight acting as a secure layer that expands XRP’s use cases.
The integration doesn’t stop with Midnight, as confirmed by Hoskinson, who teased a “full DeFi package.” As part of this package, Cardano’s Lace Wallet will soon support XRP, allowing users to manage XRP and other digital assets in one place.
In addition, discussions are underway to bring RLUSD, Ripple’s USD-backed stablecoin, into the Cardano ecosystem. If this is successful, RLUSD will serve as a stable liquidity option for DeFi platforms running on Midnight.
Meanwhile, Hoskinson has also spoken with Ripple’s top executives, including CTO David Schwartz and CEO Brad Garlinghouse, about building a smooth connection between Midnight and the XRP Ledger. These talks aim to combine Cardano’s smart contract tools with XRP’s strength in cross-border payments and deep liquidity.
The Midnight Airdrop
Interestingly, to encourage early adoption, Cardano has launched two airdrop campaigns: the Glacier Drop and the Midnight airdrop. XRP holders who had at least $100 worth of XRP on June 11, 2025, can claim part of the 1.2 billion NIGHT tokens, which power Midnight’s governance.
Notably, Midnight has already gone live on testnet, with developers deploying the first privacy-focused apps late last year. Cardano expects the mainnet launch later in 2025. The sidechain supports multiple blockchains, including Ethereum, Solana, Avalanche, and XRPL.
Do you know what staking is ? Staking on the blockchain refers to the process where participants lock up a certain amount of cryptocurrency to support the operations and security of a blockchain network. In return, they earn rewards, typically in the form of additional cryptocurrency. Staking is often associated with proof-of-stake (PoS) or similar consensus mechanisms used by many blockchains.
Partners :
Cardano Use Case : Creation of a custom academic credentialing solution with Identus
