Wellgistics Launches Blockchain Payment System for 6,500 US Pharmacies

This marks the biggest deployment of cryptocurrency payments in healthcare to date. The system runs on the XRP Ledger, offering pharmacies instant payments instead of waiting days for traditional bank transfers.

A major pharmaceutical distributor just made crypto payments a reality for thousands of pharmacies across America. Wellgistics Health rolled out its XRP-powered payment system on August 13, 2025, letting over 6,500 independent pharmacies process drug purchases using blockchain technology.

How the New Payment System Works

The XRP Implementation Program works through a partnership with RxERP, a pharmacy software company. Pharmacies can now pay suppliers and move money in seconds rather than the usual 1-3 days needed for wire transfers or bank payments.

The blockchain system cuts costs dramatically. Traditional bank wires cost $10-$30 per transaction, while XRP transfers cost less than $0.0002 each. For small pharmacy owners dealing with tight profit margins, these savings add up quickly.

Brian Norton, CEO of Wellgistics Health, said pharmacy owners understand the benefits. “Independent pharmacy owners are far more forward-thinking than many realize,” Norton explained. “They see the power of blockchain and understand how transformative this will be as it scales across the industry.”

The system handles compliance requirements that are crucial in healthcare. All payments meet HIPAA privacy rules and anti-money laundering laws. Every transaction gets recorded on the XRP Ledger, creating a permanent record for audits and tracking.

Why Pharmacies Need Faster Payments

Independent pharmacies face serious cash flow problems with traditional payment systems. When they order drugs from suppliers, they often wait days for payments to clear. This delay makes it harder to restock inventory quickly when patients need medications.

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The new blockchain system solves this problem by settling payments instantly. Pharmacies can now reorder supplies immediately after making payments, improving their ability to serve patients. The 24/7 operation means payments work even on weekends and holidays.

Wellgistics already serves more than 6,500 independent pharmacies and 200 pharmaceutical manufacturers nationwide. The company handles wholesale drug distribution and prescription routing services across the United States.

Company’s Blockchain Strategy

Wellgistics committed to blockchain technology earlier this year. In May 2025, the company announced it would hold XRP as a treasury asset alongside using it for payments. The company secured a $50 million credit line to support its blockchain infrastructure development.

The NASDAQ-listed company (WGRX) went public in February 2025 after being spun off from Danam Health. However, the stock has dropped more than 80% since its debut, closing recently at $0.62 per share.

Despite stock performance issues, Wellgistics continues expanding its blockchain initiatives. The company filed SEC documents outlining plans to use XRP for treasury management and capital raising purposes.

Healthcare Industry Embraces Blockchain

The healthcare sector is slowly adopting blockchain technology for various uses. The global blockchain healthcare market was worth $7.04 billion in 2023 and could reach $214.86 billion by 2030, according to Grand View Research.

Other healthcare companies have also started using cryptocurrency. Prenetics Global Limited, a health sciences company, bought 187 Bitcoin worth $20 million earlier this year. Singapore-based Basel Medical Group announced plans to acquire $1 billion in Bitcoin for its reserves.

Wellgistics joins other companies that have added XRP to their strategic holdings, showing growing institutional interest in the cryptocurrency for business operations.

The pharmaceutical industry processes massive amounts of payments between manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies. Blockchain technology offers transparency and speed that traditional banking cannot match for these complex transactions.

Next Steps for Expansion

Wellgistics plans to expand the program beyond pharmacy payments. The next phase includes onboarding pharmaceutical manufacturers for direct blockchain-to-blockchain transactions. This would eliminate even more intermediaries from the drug supply chain.

The company also wants to launch direct-to-patient programs. These would let manufacturers ship medications straight to patients’ homes while coordinating with pharmacies and doctors through the blockchain system.

Pro-XRP attorney Bill Morgan called the development “real utility and use for XRP and the XRPL.” He shared evidence showing that pharmacies are already joining the program, not just planning to join in the future.

The program currently operates in beta mode while pharmacies complete onboarding and training. Full 24/7 operations will roll out as more pharmacies join the system and become comfortable with blockchain payments.

The Bottom Line

Wellgistics has created the first large-scale cryptocurrency payment system in American healthcare. The XRP-powered platform offers 6,500 pharmacies instant, low-cost payments that could transform how the industry handles money.

Success of this program may encourage other healthcare companies to adopt similar blockchain solutions. For an industry known for slow adoption of new technology, Wellgistics is proving that cryptocurrency can solve real business problems in regulated sectors.