XRP Ledger developers propose creating wallets with zero XRP for stablecoin payments

XRP Ledger developers are testing a method to create blockchain accounts containing zero XRP.

This experimental change would permit sponsors to cover the required reserves for customer and AI-agent accounts. This allows users to begin with stablecoins without first obtaining XRP.

The proposal introduces a transaction named SponsoredAccountCreate, submitted on Oct. 15. This allows an existing account to generate another account and cover its reserve requirement.

Currently, the XRP Ledger mandates a minimum reserve of 1 XRP per account. This locked amount prevents the network from being flooded with empty wallets.

Under the proposed structure, a sponsoring account would cover this reserve, enabling the new wallet to maintain a zero XRP balance. The sponsor would bear the cost, while the network’s total reserve obligation remains.

Sponsors could also cover transaction fees via a wider sponsorship mechanism, permitting applications to pay these charges for their users.

Ripple recently collaborated with Privy, a Stripe company, to implement embedded wallets within XRP Ledger applications. This aims to support payments using XRP and Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin, including automated payments from AI agents.

The new code would establish an account without sending it any XRP. However, the pull request is still open, facing two unresolved automated code-review findings. Furthermore, it relies on sponsorship changes that have not yet activated on mainnet. These changes still require validator approval; as of Oct. 19, the sponsorship amendment had 11 of the 35 votes needed from trusted validators, falling short of the 29 required.