Supply Chain Attack Threatens Thousands of Crypto Apps
The XRP Ledger Foundation has confirmed it discovered a serious security vulnerability in its official JavaScript library, which is used by developers to interact with the XRP Ledger blockchain.
In an April 22 blog post, blockchain security firm Aikido revealed that the library had been compromised by sophisticated attackers who inserted a backdoor designed to steal private keys and gain unauthorized access to cryptocurrency wallets.
“This package is used by hundreds of thousands of applications and websites, making it a potentially catastrophic supply chain attack on the cryptocurrency ecosystem,” Aikido warned.
The vulnerability affected the JavaScript developer tools, not the XRP Ledger itself. The tools are widely integrated into web applications and wallets for building on the XRP blockchain.
Updated Software Already Released
The XRP Ledger Foundation responded promptly by releasing an updated version of the software package, removing the malicious code. In a follow-up statement on X, the Foundation said that the compromised version had been removed from its repositories.
For users of the 2.14.x branch we’ve just published an updated npm package to remove the previously compromised version. If you’re using the 2.14.x branch, please update to 2.14.3 immediately:https://t.co/ZgCiSPf8px
— XRP Ledger Foundation (Official) (@XRPLF) April 22, 2025
It also confirmed that several core XRP ecosystem projects — including XRPScan, First Ledger, and Gen3 Games — were not affected by the breach.
Despite the severity of the security issue, the XRP token (XRP) closed the U.S. trading day up more than 3.5%, according to data from CoinGecko.
XRP currently holds a market capitalization of over $125 billion, with a fully diluted valuation exceeding $215 billion.
Institutional Momentum Continues Despite Scare
The XRP Ledger, first launched in 2012, is one of the longest-running blockchain networks and is known for its focus on payments and institutional DeFi applications.
Following the election of crypto-friendly President Donald Trump in November 2024, XRP surged over 300%, buoyed by optimism about favorable regulation. Since then, multiple asset managers have submitted applications to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
On April 21, Coinbase further boosted institutional access to XRP by launching XRP futures contracts on its U.S. derivatives exchange.
Final Thoughts: Prompt Action Prevents Wider Fallout
While the discovery of a backdoor in a core software package is alarming, the swift mitigation by the XRP Ledger Foundation likely prevented a larger security incident.
The event highlights the growing need for supply chain security in the crypto space, particularly as institutional adoption accelerates and infrastructure becomes more complex.
For now, the XRP Ledger appears to have avoided disaster — but the episode serves as a sobering reminder that even well-established networks must remain vigilant against increasingly sophisticated threats.
