XRP to introduce staking features? The CTO discusses the "dual-layer consensus model": Adding a DeFi yield layer to XRP

The veteran public blockchain Ripple is exploring the feasibility of introducing a staking feature, bringing new appeal to its presence in the spot ETF market. How can this be achieved? (Background: Analyzing the distribution of XRP chips, who holds the most Ripple coins?) (Additional background: Five Ripple XRP spot ETFs have been listed on DTCC, with trading expected to start on Nasdaq as early as this week.) After Trump was re-elected as President of the United States, the veteran public blockchain Ripple not only ended its long-standing legal battle with the U.S. SEC but also saw its token XRP (which was previously accused by the SEC of being an illegal security) finally welcome its first spot ETF product, officially listing for trading on U.S. stock markets this month. However, as funds attempt to enter the Ripple ETF, investors' real demand for greater returns immediately arises: XRP does not have a native staking mechanism like Ethereum or Solana, and cannot provide additional staking rewards for investors, making it seem “underproductive” in the environment where various altcoin ETFs are being listed. In response, Ripple's Chief Technology Officer David Schwartz proposed a “dual consensus” solution, attempting to let this veteran public chain have its own revenue engine without shaking the core consensus mechanism of Ripple (PoA). Institutions want more than just price fluctuations. The birth of the XRP ETF finally allows institutional investors to allocate XRP positions directly within a compliant framework. However, for Wall Street, this is clearly not compelling enough; they care more about stable cash flow. Currently, Ethereum's staking annualized return rate is about 3% to 4%, and Solana also offers a similar level, which further amplifies XRP's zero-interest shortcoming. In this regard, Ripple's Engineering Director J. Ayo Akinyele recently stated that the future Ripple ecosystem “cannot only talk about liquidity, but also about asset productivity,” otherwise market funds will turn to public chains and tokens that can generate money. 1/6 XRP has always been about moving value quickly and efficiently. Over the years, it has gone from powering payments to helping settle tokenized assets and enabling real-time liquidity across different markets. — J. Ayo Akinyele (@ja_akinyele) November 18, 2025 New model of dual consensus. In order to introduce staking features without “changing” the original consensus mechanism, Ripple's CTO David Schwartz proposed a “dual consensus model,” trying to introduce a true native staking and reward mechanism for XRP without sacrificing the speed and low cost of XRPL. Specifically, the first layer (outer layer) completely retains the current design: all validators continue to use the original Proof-of-Association (PoA) mechanism, quickly deciding which transactions can enter the ledger every 3-5 seconds; this layer does not touch staking or rewards, ensuring cross-border payments remain fast and cheap; the second layer (inner layer) adds a small “core validator circle,” with only about 12-20 spots. Who can enter this circle depends on who has staked the most XRP. Anyone can stake their XRP to “the validator I trust”; the more they stake, the easier it is for the supported validator to be elected as a core validator. Only this group of core validators is responsible for truly producing blocks, signing the final ledger, and sharing the rewards; if they commit misconduct, the staked XRP will be directly slashed. As for where the staking rewards come from? No new coins will be printed, mainly relying on additional transaction fees generated by future smart contracts, AMM, stablecoin RLUSD, and portions of transaction fees that were originally to be burned. This allows long-term holders and validators to receive benefits without destroying the deflationary characteristics of XRP. In simple terms: the outer layer is responsible for “fast and cheap,” while the inner layer is responsible for “who produces the block, who gets the money”; the two layers work separately, allowing XRPL to continue being the king of payments while safely upgrading to a DeFi platform with staking rewards. This is Schwartz's envisioned blueprint for native staking. Schwartz emphasized that this dual-layer design allows for the addition of yield equipment without “tearing down the house”; he described it as: “The outer layer is like a safe, and the inner layer is like a laboratory. We want to ensure that both do not interfere with each other but can share value.” The pros and cons of the dual consensus model. Supporters of this idea believe that it will help attract more institutional funds, enhance XRP's core competitiveness in the ETF market, and bring greater liquidity to XRP. However, opposing voices argue that XRPL's core advantage is low cost and fast settlement, and introducing staking features through this model will affect its decentralization degree and increase complexity. Even Akinyele emphasized that this is merely a concept and difficult to implement in the short term. Faced with such a concept, XRP is currently like facing a significant surgery: if the surgery is successful, it will become a top public chain with both yield and regulatory certainty; but if the surgery fails, the complex governance mechanism may deter institutions. Related reports REX-Osprey DOGE and XRP spot ETF listing performance exceeds expectations! DOJE trading volume reached $6 million within an hour, XRPP broke $24 million. BlackRock temporarily does not launch XRP and SOL spot ETFs; technical analysis reveals potential and risks. Cryptocurrency price race: Can veterans XRP and ADA reach the resistance level first, or will the newcomer XYZVerse seize the opportunity? <Ripple to introduce staking features? CTO discusses “dual consensus model”: Adding DeFi yield layer for XRP> This article was originally published in BlockTempo, the most influential blockchain news media.