Hex Trust has taken a big step into the multichain world. The regulated digital asset custodian announced a partnership with LayerZero to launch wXRP, a wrapped version of XRP built for cross-chain use. The product went live with around $100 million in total value locked. That is not a soft launch. It signals real institutional interest from day one. wXRP gives XRP holders a way to use their assets beyond the XRPL. It opens the door to DeFi activity on major networks without leaving compliance behind.
What wXRP Is and Why It Matters
wXRP is a wrapped representation of XRP issued as an Omnichain Fungible Token, or OFT. Specifically, Hex Trust issues the asset, while LayerZero powers the cross-chain movement. Furthermore, each wXRP token stays fully backed 1:1 by real XRP. In fact, Hex Trust holds the underlying assets in its regulated and audited custody system.
Hex Trust partners with @LayerZero_Core to bring institutional-grade multichain services to the ecosystem
A major highlight of this integration is the launch of wXRP a wrapped representation of XRP issued as an OFT.
🔹 Cross-Chain Utility: wXRP expands XRP’s reach to Solana,… https://t.co/RCD5rEsGmB pic.twitter.com/gJolAh149n
— 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸XRP (@BankXRP) December 18, 2025
That detail matters for institutions that cannot touch risky bridges or unverified wrappers. Because wXRP uses LayerZero’s OFT standard, supply stays unified. There is no fragmented liquidity across chains. The same asset moves between networks instead of spawning copies. At launch, wXRP supports Ethereum, Solana, Optimism and HyperEVM. More chains can follow without redesigning the system.
DeFi Access Meets Institutional Guardrails
The launch gives XRP holders new ways to use their assets. wXRP can pair with RLUSD, Ripple’s regulated U.S. dollar stablecoin, for trading and liquidity across supported chains. This setup lets XRP participate in DeFi markets that were previously out of reach. Lending, swaps and liquidity pools now sit on the table. At the same time, Hex Trust keeps things buttoned up. The custody framework follows licensing rules. Independent audits back the structure. Every deployment goes through security checks before going live. This balance is the main pitch. Builders get flexibility. Institutions get predictability and compliance teams do not panic.
Why LayerZero Plays a Key Role
LayerZero’s OFT standard removes one of crypto’s biggest headaches. Traditional bridges often add risk, delays and fragmented supply. Here, the token stays canonical across chains. Messaging handles movement. Custody stays centralized and regulated. That is exactly what large asset issuers want. Hex Trust said the framework can support expansion to more than 150 chains. That makes the setup future-proof instead of a one-off experiment. LayerZero also brings reach. Thousands of apps already integrate with its infrastructure. That makes it easier for wXRP to show up across DeFi without heavy custom work.
A Signal for XRP and Institutional DeFi
The wXRP launch shows where the market is heading. Institutions still want compliance. But they also want yield, liquidity and programmability. By combining regulated custody with omnichain tech, Hex Trust is trying to bridge that gap. Not with hype, but with structure. For XRP, this is a meaningful shift. It moves the asset closer to the center of multichain finance. Also, for the broader market, it hints at what institutional DeFi might actually look like. Less chaos, more rails and finally, fewer excuses not to build.
