The distributor is rolling out an XRPL-powered system for 6,500 pharmacies to speed up payments, cut costs and expand blockchain use in healthcare finance.
Updated Aug 17, 2025, 7:02 a.m. Published Aug 16, 2025, 11:00 a.m.
Wellgistics Health Inc. is deploying an XRP Ledger-based payment system for thousands of pharmacies across the United States, deepening its bet on blockchain as it looks to overhaul healthcare finance.
The Nasdaq-listed distributor (WGRX) has announced that its new platform enables independent pharmacies to pay for drug inventory and move funds instantly, bypassing banking delays and high credit card fees.
Integrated with RxERP, a serialized pharmaceutical e-commerce and enterprise resource planning system, the program promises real-time tracking, lower costs, and direct settlement between pharmacies and distributors. Pharmacies can now enroll in the beta version of the program.
The system is built on the XRP Ledger (XRPL), an open-source blockchain with core development led by Ripple Labs.
With a network of more than 6,500 pharmacies and 200 manufacturers, Wellgistics is one of the first healthcare companies to launch an XRPL payment solution at scale. The firm’s CEO, Brian Norton, said pharmacy owners have embraced the initiative, calling them more forward-thinking on blockchain than many in the industry assume.
The program enables pharmacies to settle invoices over XRPL, though Wellgistics has not disclosed whether participants must hold XRP directly or use fiat-to-XRP conversions for settlement.
The program was designed to meet strict compliance standards, including HIPAA and anti-money laundering requirements. After the pharmacy roll-out, Wellgistics plans to extend the platform to manufacturers and test direct-to-patient programs, allowing medications to be shipped from drugmakers directly to patients under physician oversight.
The initiative builds on a May 8 announcement that Wellgistics intends to use XRP not just for payments but also as a treasury reserve asset. That plan is backed by a $50 million equity line of credit, which management said would support programmable liquidity and on-demand financial infrastructure across its healthcare network.
Founded as Wellgistics LLC in 2016, the company was acquired by Danam Health in September 2024 before being spun off through an initial public offering in February 2025. Today, Wellgistics Health operates as a standalone Nasdaq-listed entity, providing wholesale distribution, prescription routing, and AI-powered hub services to pharmacies nationwide.
Shares have dropped more than 80% since the February debut. They closed Tuesday at $0.62, down 7%, before rising to $0.65 in after-hours trading. The company’s current market cap is around $47 million.
By linking pharmacy payments to the XRP Ledger while preparing to hold XRP on its balance sheet, Wellgistics is aiming to position itself as both a user and financial backer of the blockchain.
Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk’s full AI Policy.
Siamak Masnavi
Siamak Masnavi is a researcher focused on blockchain technology, cryptocurrency regulation and macroeconomic forces shaping digital assets — including interest rate policy, capital flows and adoption trends. He holds an MSc and PhD in computer science from the University of London and began his career in software development, with nearly four years in the banking sector in London and Zurich. Since April 2018, he has been writing about the crypto industry. His focus shifted primarily to research in November 2024, though he continues to contribute regularly to industry reporting.
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