XRP Ledger launches XLS-81 permissioned DEX on mainnet for regulated institutions
The XRP Ledger (XRPL) has activated XLS-81, a Permissioned DEX amendment that lets regulated institutions trade on-chain inside credential-gated private domains on the XRPL mainnet. Built on recently activated Permissioned Domains (XLS-80) and tied to verifiable credentials (XLS-70), each domain runs an isolated DEX with its own order books and currency pairs; only authorized accounts can view and trade within that domain. The permissioned layer runs alongside the public XRPL DEX rather than replacing it, preserving open-market liquidity while enabling shared institutional pools, instant local payout, and protocol-level policy controls to meet compliance and sanctions requirements. For traders, XLS-81 could increase institutional flow and deepen on-chain liquidity for XRP-based markets without fragmenting capital across separate chains. The upgrade keeps XRPL’s low latency and on-chain transparency but restricts participation to credentialed entities, making it more attractive to banks, brokers and custodians seeking compliant on-chain FX and settlement. Primary SEO keywords: XRP Ledger, Permissioned DEX, institutional liquidity, compliance, XLS-81. Secondary keywords included naturally: XLS-70, XLS-80, credential-gated liquidity, on-chain FX, settlement network.
Bullish
XLS-81 directly targets institutional adoption by enabling regulated entities to access on-chain liquidity while meeting compliance needs. That is likely bullish for XRP because: (1) it lowers barriers for banks, brokers and custodians to route FX and settlement flows through XRPL, increasing transaction volume and demand for on-ledger liquidity; (2) by running permissioned DEXes alongside the public DEX, it avoids capital fragmentation and can concentrate institutional order flow, improving depth and reducing slippage on XRP pairs; (3) maintaining XRPL’s low-latency, on-chain settlement and transparency while adding credential gating addresses custody and regulatory concerns that often block institutional participation. Short-term, price response may be muted as adoption depends on institutional onboarding, credential frameworks and integrations. Initial announcements can spur speculative interest and trading volume around XRP, producing upward pressure. Long-term, if banks and brokers integrate XRPL for FX/settlement, sustained higher volumes and tighter spreads would be supportive of XRP’s price and market liquidity.