{
  "$schema": "https://degreesofsatoshi.com/encyclopedia/schemas/article-v1.json",
  "schemaVersion": "1.0.0",
  "id": "what-is-rlusd",
  "canonical": "https://degreesofsatoshi.com/encyclopedia/what-is-rlusd/",
  "collection": "stablecoins",
  "title": "What is Ripple USD (RLUSD)?",
  "description": "Understand Ripple USD’s dollar reference, reserve disclosures, supported ledgers and the distinction between holding RLUSD and obtaining direct issuer redemption.",
  "aliases": [
    "what is rlusd",
    "What is Ripple USD (RLUSD)"
  ],
  "dates": {
    "published": "2026-10-02",
    "modified": "2026-10-02",
    "verified": "2026-10-02T19:26:58.461Z",
    "dataAsOf": "2026-10-02"
  },
  "authorship": {
    "publisher": "Degrees of Satoshi editorial project",
    "process": "AI-assisted research and drafting with a separate automated source-verification pass; no external expert or named human review is implied."
  },
  "quickAnswer": {
    "text": "Ripple USD, or RLUSD, is a privately issued stablecoin designed to track one US dollar. Ripple describes backing in dollar deposits, Treasuries and cash equivalents, with reserve reporting. Holding the token differs from being an eligible redemption customer, and a one-dollar reference does not guarantee every secondary-market trade occurs at one dollar.",
    "claimId": "what-is-rlusd-quick-answer",
    "sourceIds": [
      "x425-sc-rlusd",
      "x425-sc-rlusd-terms"
    ]
  },
  "keyFacts": [
    {
      "label": "Reference",
      "value": "RLUSD targets one US dollar.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "x425-sc-rlusd"
      ],
      "id": "reference",
      "claimId": "what-is-rlusd-fact-reference"
    },
    {
      "label": "Redemption",
      "value": "Direct redemption is subject to customer eligibility and applicable agreements.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "x425-sc-rlusd-terms"
      ],
      "id": "redemption",
      "claimId": "what-is-rlusd-fact-redemption"
    },
    {
      "label": "XRPL",
      "value": "Holding RLUSD on the XRP Ledger requires the relevant trust line.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "x425-sc-rlusd-xrpl"
      ],
      "id": "xrpl",
      "claimId": "what-is-rlusd-fact-xrpl"
    }
  ],
  "prerequisites": [
    "cash-backed-stablecoins"
  ],
  "sections": [
    {
      "id": "design",
      "heading": "A token claim, not a share in Ripple",
      "sourceIds": [
        "x425-sc-rlusd",
        "x425-sc-rlusd-terms"
      ],
      "paragraphs": [
        "RLUSD is intended as a payment token with a dollar reference. It is different from XRP and from equity in Ripple. The issuer’s terms explicitly distinguish users who hold or use tokens from customers with access to additional issuer services.",
        "The product and terms described here were checked on 2 October 2026. Consult the current customer agreement before assuming a particular person can obtain a bank-dollar redemption."
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "networks",
      "heading": "The receiving setup depends on the ledger",
      "sourceIds": [
        "x425-sc-rlusd-xrpl",
        "x425-sc-rlusd-terms"
      ],
      "paragraphs": [
        "On the XRP Ledger, RLUSD uses issued-token functionality and requires a trust line to the issuer. On Ethereum it uses a token contract. These are different account and transaction systems.",
        "Use Ripple’s current deployment records and the recipient’s supported network. A destination accepting XRP alone does not thereby establish support for an issued RLUSD balance."
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "evidence",
      "heading": "Read backing claims and assurance at their own scope",
      "sourceIds": [
        "x425-sc-rlusd",
        "x425-sc-rlusd-terms"
      ],
      "paragraphs": [
        "Ripple publishes reserve information and third-party reports. A useful reading identifies the report date, assets covered and the assurance conclusion. The issuer’s description of full backing is a claim to inspect, not an independent review performed by this article.",
        "Market liquidity, custody, chain operation and access to redemption remain separate dependencies. An illustrative exchange sale at $0.998 yields $998 for 1,000 tokens before fees, even though the intended reference is $1."
      ]
    }
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "question": "Is RLUSD the same asset as XRP?",
      "answer": "No. RLUSD is a dollar-referenced issued token. Its presence on the XRP Ledger does not make it XRP, and a wallet or service must support the particular issued token.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "x425-sc-rlusd-xrpl",
        "x425-sc-rlusd"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "claims": [
    {
      "id": "what-is-rlusd-quick-answer",
      "articleSlug": "what-is-rlusd",
      "statement": "Ripple USD, or RLUSD, is a privately issued stablecoin designed to track one US dollar. Ripple describes backing in dollar deposits, Treasuries and cash equivalents, with reserve reporting. Holding the token differs from being an eligible redemption customer, and a one-dollar reference does not guarantee every secondary-market trade occurs at one dollar.",
      "sourceIds": [
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      ],
      "sourceLocators": [
        {
          "sourceId": "source-32878e1374d4363e",
          "locator": "Stablecoin overview; backing; transparency"
        },
        {
          "sourceId": "source-c5af10561e079666",
          "locator": "2. About RLUSD; Customer versus User; Reserve"
        }
      ],
      "scope": {
        "collection": "stablecoins",
        "dataAsOf": "2026-10-02",
        "blockHeight": null
      },
      "qualification": "",
      "evidenceStatus": "documented",
      "verification": {
        "status": "verified",
        "method": "independent automated source review",
        "checkedAt": "2026-10-02T19:26:58.461Z",
        "reviewer": "Independent automated verification — Codex DeFi agent, separate from the stablecoin drafting agent",
        "notes": "RLUSD terms and trust-line requirement checked; 1,000 × 0.998 = 998 dollars before fees. Backing remains issuer assertion and direct access conditional."
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "what-is-rlusd-fact-reference",
      "articleSlug": "what-is-rlusd",
      "statement": "Reference: RLUSD targets one US dollar.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "source-32878e1374d4363e"
      ],
      "sourceLocators": [
        {
          "sourceId": "source-32878e1374d4363e",
          "locator": "Stablecoin overview; backing; transparency"
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      ],
      "scope": {
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        "dataAsOf": "2026-10-02",
        "blockHeight": null
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      "qualification": "",
      "evidenceStatus": "documented",
      "verification": {
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        "checkedAt": "2026-10-02T19:26:58.461Z",
        "reviewer": "Independent automated verification — Codex DeFi agent, separate from the stablecoin drafting agent",
        "notes": "RLUSD terms and trust-line requirement checked; 1,000 × 0.998 = 998 dollars before fees. Backing remains issuer assertion and direct access conditional."
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "what-is-rlusd-fact-redemption",
      "articleSlug": "what-is-rlusd",
      "statement": "Redemption: Direct redemption is subject to customer eligibility and applicable agreements.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "source-c5af10561e079666"
      ],
      "sourceLocators": [
        {
          "sourceId": "source-c5af10561e079666",
          "locator": "2. About RLUSD; Customer versus User; Reserve"
        }
      ],
      "scope": {
        "collection": "stablecoins",
        "dataAsOf": "2026-10-02",
        "blockHeight": null
      },
      "qualification": "",
      "evidenceStatus": "documented",
      "verification": {
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        "checkedAt": "2026-10-02T19:26:58.461Z",
        "reviewer": "Independent automated verification — Codex DeFi agent, separate from the stablecoin drafting agent",
        "notes": "RLUSD terms and trust-line requirement checked; 1,000 × 0.998 = 998 dollars before fees. Backing remains issuer assertion and direct access conditional."
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "what-is-rlusd-fact-xrpl",
      "articleSlug": "what-is-rlusd",
      "statement": "XRPL: Holding RLUSD on the XRP Ledger requires the relevant trust line.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "source-325b16bd956fb0f5"
      ],
      "sourceLocators": [
        {
          "sourceId": "source-325b16bd956fb0f5",
          "locator": "Issued tokens; trust line setup"
        }
      ],
      "scope": {
        "collection": "stablecoins",
        "dataAsOf": "2026-10-02",
        "blockHeight": null
      },
      "qualification": "",
      "evidenceStatus": "documented",
      "verification": {
        "status": "verified",
        "method": "independent automated source review",
        "checkedAt": "2026-10-02T19:26:58.461Z",
        "reviewer": "Independent automated verification — Codex DeFi agent, separate from the stablecoin drafting agent",
        "notes": "RLUSD terms and trust-line requirement checked; 1,000 × 0.998 = 998 dollars before fees. Backing remains issuer assertion and direct access conditional."
      }
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "x425-sc-rlusd",
      "label": "Ripple USD overview",
      "publisher": "Ripple",
      "url": "https://ripple.com/products/stablecoin/",
      "locator": "Stablecoin overview; backing; transparency",
      "note": "Issuer description of RLUSD backing, native networks and transparency reports.",
      "version": "Document retrieved 2026-10-02; content hash recorded",
      "checkedAt": "2026-10-02T18:51:08.113Z",
      "contentSha256": "e9f1157385ec434ca87e8615de3c7c0e0f97f1e5619d7ebf765569b3aec3a468",
      "recordId": "source-32878e1374d4363e"
    },
    {
      "id": "x425-sc-rlusd-terms",
      "label": "RLUSD Stablecoin User Terms",
      "publisher": "Ripple",
      "url": "https://ripple.com/legal/stablecoin/",
      "locator": "2. About RLUSD; Customer versus User; Reserve",
      "note": "Redemption subject to customer conditions and market price risk; no promise every holder has direct access.",
      "version": "Document retrieved 2026-10-02; content hash recorded",
      "checkedAt": "2026-10-02T18:51:08.082Z",
      "contentSha256": "26cad54180b058f41a250349f4e53d14123c36d860a086fbd5b364f6faa730ae",
      "recordId": "source-c5af10561e079666"
    },
    {
      "id": "x425-sc-rlusd-xrpl",
      "label": "RLUSD on the XRP Ledger",
      "publisher": "Ripple documentation",
      "url": "https://docs.ripple.com/products/stablecoin/developer-resources/rlusd-on-the-xrpl",
      "locator": "Issued tokens; trust line setup",
      "note": "XRPL trust-line requirement; network reserve constants are not reproduced.",
      "version": "Document retrieved 2026-10-02; content hash recorded",
      "checkedAt": "2026-10-02T18:51:08.255Z",
      "contentSha256": "c51944f8b396fd3ce7d6b24454348ec678f451b1a33b23740b1e5822bd1a86fd",
      "recordId": "source-325b16bd956fb0f5"
    }
  ],
  "related": {
    "articles": [
      "stablecoin-reserve-reports",
      "stablecoin-minting-redemption-eligibility",
      "stablecoin-deposit-memos",
      "what-is-usdg"
    ],
    "dossiers": [],
    "wallets": []
  },
  "revisionHistory": [
    {
      "date": "2026-10-02",
      "kind": "published",
      "summary": "First publication after primary-source research and separate automated verification."
    }
  ],
  "citation": "Degrees of Satoshi editorial project. “What is Ripple USD (RLUSD)?.” Published 2026-10-02; updated 2026-10-02. https://degreesofsatoshi.com/encyclopedia/what-is-rlusd/"
}