XRP vs XRP2.0 — Looks the Same but Different

Heard about XRP vs XRP 2.0 and XRP vs XRP20 and wondered if they’re the same thing? Quick answer: they look alike only in name. 

Under the hood, they’re very different. In this guide we cut through the noise of what is XRP 2.0, what is XRP20, how they differ from original XRP, and what that means for buyers. 

We’ll keep the language simple, highlight red flags, and give you a handy checklist so you can research with confidence.

Read also : XRP Ledger Achieves Major Smart Contract Breakthrough on AlphaNet

What is XRP the original

XRP is the native asset of the XRP Ledger (XRPL), a purpose-built blockchain launched in 2012 for fast, low-cost value transfer. XRPL closes ledgers in seconds and was benchmarked at roughly ~1,000+ transactions per second in early tests far faster than many first-generation chains. 

It uses a variant of the Federated Byzantine Agreement to achieve consensus without mining. 

Who created it? The XRPL was developed by early contributors including Jed McCaleb, David Schwartz, and Arthur Britto; later, OpenCoin (now Ripple) formed to build software and promote adoption around the open-source ledger.

What about law and regulation? In July 2023, a U.S. court ruled that programmatic sales of XRP were not securities offers, while certain institutional sales were. It wasn’t a blanket declaration for all future sales, but it did add clarity for many market participants.

Supply and transparency: 100 billion XRP were created at genesis. Ripple placed 55 billion XRP into on-ledger escrow back in 2017 to provide supply predictability and publishes quarterly XRP Markets Reports for transparency.

Quick facts about XRP

1. Native chain: XRP Ledger.
2. Speed: ledger closes in ~3–5 seconds.
3. Throughput: historical tests around ~1,000 TPS.
4. Use cases: cross-border payments, liquidity, tokenization.
5. Supply: fixed at 100B, large portion historically held in escrow.

Read also : XRP Ledger Activity Rises! Is This a Sign of Bullish Momentum?

What is XRP 2.0 and XRP20 on Ethereum

Here’s where confusion starts. There are two separate Ethereum tokens with XRP-like names:

• XRP20 (ticker: XRP20) is an ERC-20 token on Ethereum launched in 2023. Its own site and listings describe it as an “inspired by XRP” project with staking and a burn mechanism (often cited as 0.1% of each buy/sell). It explicitly operates on Ethereum, not XRPL, and is not part of Ripple’s ecosystem.
• XRP 2.0 (tickers vary, e.g., XRP2) is another ERC-20 memecoin that trades on venues like MEXC and Uniswap pairs, separate again from both XRP and XRP20. Liquidity and fundamentals can be thin.

Meanwhile, you may also see references to XRP Ledger “2.0.x/2.5.0”—those are software versions of the XRPL server (rippled). 

They’re upgrades to the original XRPL, not new coins. Recent releases include features like XChainBridge, DID, and later Permissioned DEX, Batch, and TokenEscrow amendments. Again, this is the same XRP network getting upgrades, not a new token. 

Quick facts about XRP20 / XRP 2.0

1. Chain: Ethereum (ERC-20)—not XRPL.
2. Utilities: marketing mentions staking and burn features.
3. Branding: “inspired by” XRP; no official affiliation with Ripple.
4. Liquidity: often small caps with limited markets; DYOR.
5. Beware of name confusion and promotional hype.

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Read also : XRP Ledger Reaches New Record! Adoption Growing?

XRP vs XRP2.0 and XRP20 — the real differences

Let’s line them up so the differences are crystal-clear.

1) Blockchain

• XRP runs on its own chain (XRPL).
• XRP20 / XRP 2.0 live on Ethereum as ERC-20 tokens.

2) Purpose and design

• XRP targets fast, low-cost payments and liquidity tooling.
• XRP20 / XRP 2.0 are separate tokens with staking/burn narratives and memecoin-style branding.

3) Governance and affiliation

• XRP is part of an open-source ledger developed by a broad community; Ripple contributes software and publishes escrow reports.
• XRP20 / XRP 2.0 have no official connection to Ripple or the XRPL Foundation.

4) Legal posture

• XRP gained partial clarity in 2023: programmatic sales were ruled not securities offers, though some institutional sales were.
• XRP20 / XRP 2.0 do not inherit XRP’s legal status. They are separate assets.

5) Market maturity

• XRP has multi-billion-dollar liquidity across major venues.
• XRP20 / XRP 2.0 tend to have smaller caps and thinner markets; always check order books and slippage.

A quick due-diligence checklist

1. Verify the contract address and blockchain before buying.
2. Read the About pages on listing sites to spot disclaimers.
3. Check liquidity, volume, and exchanges that list the token.
4. Look for clear docs and non-anonymous teams where possible.
5. Treat copycat names as a red flag until proven otherwise.

Read also : The XRP Ledger and How It Forms Strategic Partnerships

Outlook and how to approach both

For XRP, watch XRPL upgrades like v2.5.0 that add new protocol features and can expand utility. Network capability and compliance wins tend to support long-term adoption.

For XRP20 / XRP 2.0, treat them as separate memecoins or experimental tokens. Evaluate contract risk, liquidity, and whether the staking/burn mechanics have real demand behind them. Claims of being “the next XRP” on Ethereum are marketing, not lineage.

Pro tip list

• Start small, test withdrawals, and enable 2FA.
• Track official XRPL release notes for real network changes.
• Be wary of social posts that blur the line between XRP and similarly named ERC-20s

Read also : Know the Difference Between XRPL, XRP, and Ripple: They Are Not the Same

Conclusion

XRP is the long-standing asset on the XRP Ledger with proven speed, transparent escrow, and growing features through ongoing XRPL upgrades. XRP20 and XRP 2.0 are unrelated ERC-20 tokens on Ethereum that borrow the name but not the tech, history, or legal context. 

If you want exposure to XRP’s real-world payments thesis, look for XRP on XRPL. If you’re speculating on XRP-named ERC-20s, treat them as separate high-risk tokens and do extra due diligence.

FAQ

Is XRP the same as XRP2.0 or XRP20?

No. XRP is native to XRPL. XRP2.0 and XRP20 are separate ERC-20 tokens on Ethereum.

What is XRP 2.0?

An ERC-20 memecoin-style token that trades on venues like MEXC and Uniswap. It is not the same as XRP.

What is XRP20?

Another ERC-20 token “inspired by” XRP that promotes staking and a burn mechanic, but it isn’t part of Ripple or XRPL. 

Did XRPL release a version called 2.0?

Yes, rippled v2.0.0 and later v2.5.0 are software updates to the XRPL server, not new coins. 

Is XRP legally cleared as “not a security”?

A 2023 ruling said programmatic sales of XRP were not securities offers, while some institutional sales were. Context matters.