XRP Ledger Update Cuts Node Memory Usage by Up to 23%

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XRP Ledger has successfully reduced the memory usage of its nodes by up to 23% following the release of the xrpld 3.3.0 update. This significant optimization was detailed in a blog post by Valentin Balaschenko from the RippleX development team. The open-source blockchain infrastructure, renowned for validating XRP transactions, has tackled a memory consumption issue that had been plaguing network operators.

Identifying the Memory Usage Anomaly

In the late summer of 2025, network operators detected an unusual spike in memory usage among some validators, while other similarly configured nodes showed no such increase. Reports of this anomaly surfaced across diverse hardware platforms. After careful investigation, the issue was found not to stem from a typical memory leak. Instead, it was identified that the application’s memory allocation mechanism retained freed memory. The xrpld 3.3.0 update has since addressed this issue.

Hussein Zangana noted that post-update, XRP Ledger nodes experienced up to a 23% reduction in memory usage, which is particularly beneficial given current RAM costs.

Additionally, developers fixed a memory regression that emerged around the same time, although it reportedly had negligible impact on operators since the prevalent memory behavior persisted both before and after the fix.

Cache Cleansing and Persistence of Memory Usage

Operators have long questioned why memory was not reclaimed immediately after the routine cache scans that clear expired records. The explanation revealed that although nodes would release memory, it remained unavailable at the system level, leading to the current observations.

Hussein Zangana of the XRP Ledger Foundation reported that tests conducted across both non-dUNL validators and standard nodes showed memory savings ranging from 13% to 23%, depending on historical data load.

Implementation of fixCleanup and New Adjustments

The fixCleanup amendment was activated on November 4, 2026, reinforcing the XRP protocol and enhancing various components of the network. This package includes numerous corrections across domains such as Single Asset Vaults, the Lending Protocol, automated market makers, permissioned DEX structure, trust line system, NFTs, MPTs, Escrow, Sponsorship, transaction signing, and delegation.

The latest update ensures that the VaultClawback operation rejects fraudulent account holders and enhances precision in rounding calculations during VaultDeposit, VaultWithdraw, and VaultClawback processes, aiming to prevent improper asset transfers within vaults.

The new regulation allows zero asset transfers in fixed-share withdrawals from heavily compromised vaults, preventing transaction failure.

Additionally, an IOU issuer is now exempt from its global freeze rule in NFT offers made in its currency, ensuring more flexibility within the ecosystem.