Introduction
For the past month I get bombarded with the same question from our users: "What other wallets can we use?" It's a simple question that should have multiple good answers. But when I actually sat down to consider which wallets I could honestly recommend, the realisation was disturbing.
Let me be clear: XRPL has a wallet problem. Not a minor inconvenience - a fundamental, ecosystem-threatening problem. When more than 85% of all dApp activity depends on a single wallet provider, we're not talking about market leadership; we're talking about dangerous centralisation. And the alternatives? Let's just say they're not exactly rushing to fill the gap.
Why We Even Need Wallets in the First Place
XRPL isn't just for sending XRP back and forth. It's a Layer 1 blockchain designed for applications, smart functionality, and ecosystem growth. Sure, developers can use command lines, but it's 2025 — normal humans need intuitive interfaces.
A proper wallet should be:
- Your secure gateway to the blockchain
- Your portal to dApps like XPMarket
- Your tool for managing tokens, NFTs, and AMM participation
Without competitive wallet options, XRPL's promise as a versatile blockchain remains shamefully unfulfilled.
What a Decent Wallet Should Actually Provide
Let's establish some bare minimum standards (according to myself) that apparently are too high for most XRPL wallet providers:
1. Basic Trustworthiness Signals
- Active social presence (Is it really so hard to tweet more than once a month?)
- Regular updates (Not just when forced to fix critical bugs)
- Visible leadership (Someone willing to stand behind their product)
- Responsive support (Users shouldn't feel abandoned)
2. Full Ecosystem Functionality
- Complete token support (Not just XRP while ignoring everything else)
- Actual working NFT features (Display, transfer, management)
- AMM and liquidity pool integration
- Comprehensive dApp connections
- Support for all current XRPL features (Not just cherry-picking the easy ones)
3. Multichain Support
- Integration with major blockchains
- Consistent experience across networks
- Interoperability features
This isn't a wish list. These are baseline features that dozens of wallets on other chains manage to provide. Yet on XRPL, it's apparently an impossible dream.
The Current XRPL Wallet Landscape
Xaman Wallet: Absolute Domination
Think about it. If all alternative wallets disappear – there will be no impact on XRPL Ecosystem. If Xaman disappeared tomorrow, XRPL's entire dApp ecosystem would collapse. That's not an exaggeration — it's simple maths. On xpmarket more than 85% of users rely on Xaman. For other dApps this number can be between 95-100%. And I would argue this is the only wallet on XRPL that actually has skin in the game.
Why Xaman dominates:
- They actually bother to engage with users (shocking concept for some)
- They release updates that add value (another revolutionary idea)
- Their team (especially Wietse) maintains public visibility
- They provide documentation users can actually follow
Despite recently introducing fees and some annoying UX choices (that 15-second Tangem activation is a special kind of torture) I honestly cannot think of a better and more reliable alternative on XRPL right now. If there is a bug - it is fixed instantly. If there is a new feature - it is implemented. No wonder why Xaman maintains the number 1 position. Because the competition is asleep on every single level you can list.
When Xaman announced fees, it was a golden opportunity for competitors to swoop in. Did any of them capitalise on this moment? Of course not. Most did not even lift a finger. And because of that I believe they deserve to remain irrelevant. You know what is the funniest part? There is even a tool developed ages ago by Wietse that converts Xaman's secret numbers into a secret key string, making it easier to migrate. Now keep this irony in mind when you read further.
The "Alternatives": A Study in Missed Opportunities
Ledger
Strengths: Good hardware security, works across chains
Weaknesses: Treats XRPL as an afterthought, no NFT support, no AMM integration
Ledger clearly sees XRPL as a box to tick, not a priority. They could have had a larger share with minimal effort but apparently can't be bothered. But, to be fare, even XRPL support was developed not by them. Oh, and guess who actually leads the new Ledger's XRP app update? Correct, XRPL Labs (Xaman team).
GemWallet
Strengths: Was early to market (that's literally it)
Weaknesses: Zombie-level social presence (last tweeted in 2024), zero commitment to development, zero commitment to promotion
GemWallet was actually the first alternative wallet we integrated with XPMarket, and I've never regretted it more. Their lack of effort is almost impressive. If you cannot be bothered to commit to the wallet's development full time, then don't expect community to the same.
CrossMark
Strengths: Solid tech foundation, reputable founder
Weaknesses: Invisible marketing, browser-only wallet
I've met CrossMark's founder personally — great guy who made the whole wallet on his own, from the back-end to front-end. And that deserves a huge credit. I also used it as my main desktop wallet for a long time and had really really high expectations. But when Xaman handed the perfect market entry opportunity, their response was a whisper when it needed to be a shout. Users needed clear migration instructions and compelling reasons to switch.
Bifrost
Strengths: Available on mobile, supports multiple chains
Weaknesses: Handicapped XRPL support, nightmare for token tracking
Using Bifrost for XRPL feels like driving Ferrari in Zimbabwe's —technically possible but clearly not what it was designed for. Every now and then users are frustrated because certain features do not work. Who do they blame for that? Correct, xpmarket…
Metamask (Snaps)
Strengths: Integration with crypto's most-used wallet
Weaknesses: No mobile support
I currently use Metamask with Ledger for all chains, including XRPL. But if I wasn't actively looking for it, I'd never know it supported XRPL. Their silence about this feature borders on suspicious.
Girin Wallet
Strengths: Clean, functional interface
Weaknesses: Verdict still out
We're currently integrating Girin with XPMarket. It works, it's simple, but I'm reserving judgment until I see how they handle promotion and user acquisition. My expectations are low given the track record of others, but I'd love to be pleasantly surprised for once.
Trust Wallet
Strengths: The most popular mobile wallet with a huge user base
Weaknesses: Only basic tokens support, no dApp connectivity
We did get some support from Trust Wallet, but it's the bare minimum — just enough to claim they "support XRPL" on their and Ripple's marketing materials. You can hold XRP, but good luck trying to do anything meaningful with it. And with no plans for deeper integration, it's yet another checkbox solution. I am honestly extremely disappointed here. Trust Wallet could have been a huge victory for XRPL Ecosystem.
The Integration Dilemma
Here's what happens from our side at XPMarket:
- Wallet providers ask for integration
- We spend resources building free integrations
- The wallet does zero promotion of their new capability
- No users migrate because they don't know it's an option
- The integration becomes a wasted investment
- We become increasingly reluctant to support new wallets
- The cycle of mediocrity continues
It's maddening. We want to offer our users alternatives. We're doing our part. But wallet providers seem to think their job ends when the integration is complete, when that's precisely when their real work should begin. Do the god damn marketing. The time for touching grass is over. Tell users how you are better and what you offer. It is your job to this, not mine, and I will not do it for you.
The Path Forward: Fix This Mess
The XRPL Ecosystem cannot grow at the rate we'd like if there is no abundance of wallets who will fruitfully compete with each other in order to provide the best experience. To fix this:
Wallet providers: Stop pretending minimal effort deserves market share. If you can't be bothered to tweet more than once a month, you shouldn't be surprised when no one uses your product.
Users: Make noise. Demand better. When Phantom or other major wallets ask what chains they should support next, flood them with XRPL requests. Your voice matters. (P.S. this is now the most upvoted request, kudos to those who initiated the movement.)
Developers: We need to collectively raise our standards. At XPMarket, we're implementing stricter requirements for future wallet integrations, including commitment to marketing and user education. The time is literally money, and we value our time.
XRPL Foundation: Prioritise wallet diversity. The current situation is a systemic risk to the entire ecosystem.
Conclusion: A Challenge to the Ecosystem
As CEO of XPMarket, I see firsthand how wallet limitations constrain our users and the broader ecosystem. The problem isn't technical — it's motivational. Most wallet providers simply aren't putting in the work required to build competitive products. But honestly, cannot even blame them, as they encounter systematic XRPL issues linked to monetisation strategies. But don't blame me when I start delisting dead and useless wallets.
This isn't just a rant; it's a wake-up call. XRPL deserves better than a wallet ecosystem dominated by a single player (even a great one) surrounded by half-hearted alternatives. Users deserve choice. dApps deserve reliable partners. And wallet providers who can't rise to the challenge deserve to fade into irrelevance.
The next time you see someone asking for wallet recommendations on XRPL, remember this: we created this problem through complacency, and only deliberate action will solve it. The ball is in your court, wallet providers. Either step up or step aside.
Don't wait for someone else to fix this problem. Whether you're a user, developer, or wallet provider, you have a role to play in creating the diverse wallet ecosystem XRPL needs.
Top comments (1)
This is a great post. It's definitely an accurate assessment of the situation. I use Ledger Nano S at the moment. This after trying to use Ellipal Titan Mini. It was a great little cold and warm (app) solution until I put it away for a few month. When it started to look like Trump wasa going to win and that his Admin was going to be friendly to crypto, I pulled my two Ellipal Titan Mini's out to find that they did not keep any kind of charge. Both of them. I, of course, used the USB-C adapters to get them back to life. They never came to life. I've posted to the boards and support email only to email with them to no solution. Finally, a tech within the company said he believes that the magnetic adapter we use to download update and charge the unit was defective. That was the last word I heard from anyone at Ellipal. Thankfully, I can use a seeds to move to another wallet solution. I'm so disappointed in Ellipal, I don't know if I trust any of them. My trusty old Ledger Nano S is working with Ledger Live so I'm good. I'm pissed though. Stay away from Ellipal.
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