Rich by Coin

With over $550M already deployed across the XRP Ledger, the ecosystem is evolving its support model to empower a more distributed and community-driven builder landscape. Over the past several years, the XRP Ledger ecosystem has grown from a small community of developers into a global network of builders, institutions, and entrepreneurs exploring new forms of digital finance. As the ecosystem expands, builders need clear and accessible pathways to funding and technical support. Visibility into available resources and how to access them is essential to scaling real projects on XRPL.

This post provides that clarity. It outlines how ecosystem support has worked to date, how builders have already benefited, and how the funding model is evolving as the XRPL ecosystem enters its next phase of growth. Over the past decade, Ripple has invested billions of dollars to support the growth of the XRP Ledger and broader digital asset infrastructure. Since 2017, more than $550 million of that has been deployed directly into XRPL ecosystem initiatives, including non-equity grants, builder incentives, strategic partnerships, and growth programs.

Since 2021, these efforts have included hackathons, builder bounties, XRPL Grants, and the XRPL Accelerator, supporting nearly 200 projects worldwide across developer infrastructure, payments, DeFi, tokenization, AI, gaming, e-commerce, carbon markets, and enterprise financial applications. These programs have helped launch startups, strengthen core infrastructure, and expand real-world use cases on XRPL. As the ecosystem matures, the focus is shifting toward expanding access to funding through more distributed and independent pathways so builders have multiple avenues to scale. Historically, much of the XRP Ledger ecosystem funding flowed through Ripple-supported initiatives such as XRPL Grants.

While those programs remain important, 2026 marks a shift toward a more distributed model, where independent organizations, regional hubs, venture partners, and community-led initiatives play a larger role in supporting builders. The goal is simple: a healthier ecosystem where builders can access funding through multiple channels. This shift is reflected in several new and expanded initiatives launching in 2026: As the industry matures, more fintechs are approaching crypto seeking support and guidance on matters ranging from financial rails to broader development strategy.