TLDR:
- XLS-80 introduces permissioned domains on XRPL’s DEX using built-in KYC credential checks.
- The framework embeds compliance directly on-chain, avoiding sidechains or external contracts.
- Ripple could bridge domains by acting as a credentialed liquidity provider and arbitrage agent.
- Proposal aims to attract institutions while raising concerns over fragmentation and central control.
The XRP Ledger could soon see a major shift in how decentralized trading works. A new proposal, XLS-80, introduces the concept of “permissioned domains” to the XRPL decentralized exchange (DEX).
These domains would limit access to certain order books based on verified credentials, such as KYC approval.
The system aims to offer regulated institutions a compliant entry into the XRPL ecosystem. As discussion around the proposal gains momentum, the community is exploring its potential to reshape how XRP facilitates regulated liquidity.
XLS-80, A Built-In Compliance Layer for the XRPL DEX
At the heart of XLS-80 is the ability to restrict access to parts of the ledger, specifically trading books, using user credentials.
Shared by community commentator WrathofKahneman, the idea centers on allowing only verified participants to post or match orders. Unlike Ethereum’s off-chain compliance methods, this setup would embed rule enforcement directly into XRPL.
There are some interesting conversations post-Apex occurring about XLS-80 Permissioned domains and how it would create a permissioned DEX (pDEX). An attempt to capture the topic in 6 tweets.
pic.twitter.com/Q0UeaaTcII
— WrathofKahneman (@WKahneman) June 17, 2025
By doing so, it could eliminate the need for custom contracts or side chains to handle regulatory requirements. For institutions, this provides a simpler way to interact with blockchain markets while staying compliant.
The use of permissioned domains would divide liquidity across different access tiers. Traders without the right credentials may be unable to interact with certain pools, creating fragmentation. This structure echoes Ethereum’s scattered liquidity across DEXs, chains, and gated pools.
However, the proposal keeps everything native to XRPL. Credentialed participants could bridge the gaps using XRP as the settlement token.
In theory, this would allow arbitrage across domains while preserving price alignment if participants are credentialed to operate across them.
Ripple’s Potential Role in Cross-Domain Liquidity
Ripple could play a key role early on by acting as a credentialed liquidity provider.
With access to multiple domains, the company could manage arbitrage and support market depth where fragmentation might otherwise cause slippage. This setup may help stabilize XRP trading and provide a framework for regulated use cases such as tokenized assets or compliant stablecoins.
By holding the necessary credentials, Ripple would also be in position to route institutional trades across isolated domains, potentially collecting fees and influencing order flow.
The proposal opens the door for financial products like securities and lending protocols to operate within XRPL’s boundaries. It also creates a new utility for XRP in bridging regulated markets. But it brings trade-offs: increased complexity, reliance on central credential issuers, and reduced openness for non-institutional users.
Community members and validators are now weighing whether the long-term gain, true institutional-grade compliance on-chain, is worth the short-term cost. XLS-80 could become the mechanism that lets XRPL support global finance without sacrificing its decentralized roots.
The post XLS-80 Proposal Could Bring Institutional-Grade Compliance to XRPL’s Native DEX appeared first on Blockonomi.
Source: https://blockonomi.com/xls-80-proposal-could-bring-institutional-grade-compliance-to-xrpls-native-dex/