Researchers affiliated with the Bank for International Settlements tested the XRP Ledger as a verification layer for official statistics, according to a working paper published on Sept. 2, 2026.
The experimental prototype used the XRP Ledger Devnet to record cryptographic fingerprints of statistical datasets rather than publishing the underlying statistics onchain. It connected with the Statistical Data and Metadata eXchange standard and calculated SHA3-512 hashes, combining multiple series into a Merkle root anchored through an XRP Ledger transaction.
Under controlled testing conditions, the system produced median publication latency of approximately three to five seconds and verification times of one to two seconds. A publisher identity system based on W3C Verifiable Credentials allowed recipients to verify both data integrity and the identity of the publishing party.
The authors stressed that the prototype is not intended for production, is unmaintained, and does not represent a partnership with Ripple or an endorsement of XRP as an investment. The design did not require XRP for payments or liquidity, and use of the XRP Ledger did not necessarily create material demand for the native asset. Potential future extensions mentioned in the paper include zero-knowledge proofs and machine-readable verification for AI agents, but no production deployment has been announced.
