Firelight has crossed 50 million staked XRP on Flare Network, marking the protocol’s fastest growth milestone since launch and signaling rising demand for DeFi utility among XRP holders.
The protocol, which enables XRP holders to stake their tokens and access decentralized finance strategies through Flare’s smart contract infrastructure, reached the 50 million XRP threshold after its initial 25 million FXRP deposit cap was filled within six hours of going live.
Following that rapid uptake, Firelight raised its deposit cap to 65 million FXRP, which is already more than halfway subscribed. Multiple single deposits exceeding 1 million XRP each point to institutional-scale participation alongside retail stakers.
Firelight Crosses the 50 Million XRP Staking Milestone on Flare
Firelight operates as a staking and DeFi cover protocol built on Flare, the Layer 1 blockchain designed for cross-chain data. XRP, historically confined to payments and exchange trading, has had limited access to the yield and lending tools available on chains like Ethereum or Solana.
Flare’s FAssets bridge wraps XRP into FXRP, making it compatible with smart contracts. Stakers receive stXRP, a liquid staking token that represents their position while the underlying XRP is deployed across onchain yield strategies.
For years, XRP lacked the basic tools of modern crypto finance: staking, yield, and access to DeFi.
That’s now changing with Firelight, an XRP staking solution built on Flare, the Layer 1 for data.
Firelight delivers onchain XRP yield strategies for both institutions and retail…
— Flare ☀️ (@FlareNetworks) July 17, 2025
Source: @FlareNetworks on X
Security infrastructure backs the protocol’s rapid growth. Firelight’s vaults have been audited by OpenZeppelin and Coinspect, and the FAssets bridge has also completed independent security reviews.
What Bringing XRP Into DeFi Actually Means for Holders
The 50 million XRP milestone matters because it represents a shift in how XRP capital is being used. Rather than sitting idle on exchanges or in cold wallets, that capital is now generating yield through Flare’s DeFi infrastructure.
Firelight’s protocol TVL stands at approximately $72.5 million, making it a significant contributor to Flare’s total chain TVL of roughly $359 million. That positions Flare around 18th among all blockchains by locked value.
The timing adds context. DeFi exploit losses reached $137 million in Q1 2026, including a $23 million stablecoin exploit caused by a private key leak. That backdrop creates a concrete demand case for DeFi protection products, which is exactly what Firelight’s Phase 2 aims to deliver.
XRP itself trades at $1.35 with a market cap of $82.54 billion, ranking fifth among all cryptocurrencies. The token is down significantly from its all-time high of $3.65 reached in July 2025, and the broader market sits at an Extreme Fear reading of 12 on the Fear & Greed Index, similar to the kind of macro-driven uncertainty that has weighed on crypto markets in recent weeks.
Firelight’s Next Steps as the Flare DeFi Ecosystem Builds Out
Phase 2 of Firelight, planned for Q2 2026, will introduce a full DeFi cover mechanism. This layer will allow other protocols to purchase protection backed by the staked XRP pool, covering smart contract failures, oracle issues, bridge exploits, and economic vulnerabilities.
That makes Firelight more than a staking product. It positions staked XRP as collateral backing a DeFi insurance market, a model that could attract protocols looking for protection after the $137 million in Q1 exploit losses demonstrated how costly uninsured vulnerabilities remain.
The protocol’s incubator, Sentora, formed through the merger of IntoTheBlock and Trident Digital, raised $25 million in Series A funding backed by Ripple, Flare, and New Form Capital. Ripple’s involvement as both XRP issuer and Sentora backer aligns with XRP’s post-SEC settlement push into institutional DeFi products, a trend also visible in moves like Goldman Sachs’ $152 million XRP ETF position.
Whether Firelight can convert its staking momentum into a functioning DeFi insurance market will depend on Phase 2 execution. The deposit cap still has room at 65 million FXRP, and the protocol’s audited vault infrastructure and institutional-grade backers give it a credible foundation. But with the broader crypto market in Extreme Fear territory and high-profile failures still shaking confidence, the real test will be whether protocols trust a new entrant to underwrite their risk.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency and digital asset markets carry significant risk. Always do your own research before making decisions.
