Conor McGregor Bets on XRP—$10B U.S. Crypto Reserve in Play

Conor McGregor, a 5x UFC champion and global sports icon, has turned his attention to the crypto world, specifically XRP and other top alts.

Arslan Butt•Tuesday, May 27, 2025•2 min read

Quick overview

Conor McGregor, a 5x UFC champion, is exploring the crypto world, focusing on XRP and its decentralization compared to Cardano and Solana.
His recent comments have prompted responses from the XRP community, highlighting its decentralization and innovative features.
The US government is considering a $10 billion Strategic Crypto Reserve that includes Bitcoin, XRP, Cardano, and Solana, reflecting growing institutional interest.
Globally, the concept of government-backed digital asset reserves is gaining momentum, with various countries exploring similar initiatives.

Conor McGregor, a 5x UFC champion and global sports icon, has turned his attention to the crypto world, specifically XRP and other top alts. He’s been vocal about a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and recently asked about blockchain decentralization beyond Bitcoin.

In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), McGregor went deep on XRP’s decentralization claims compared to Cardano and Solana. This comes as the US government is considering a $10 billion Strategic Crypto Reserve which includes not only Bitcoin but also XRP, Cardano (ADA) and Solana (SOL).

McGregor was under the impression only Bitcoin and Ethereum were decentralized. But the US government including XRP and other alts in their digital reserve plans has made him ask the broader crypto community for clarity.

XRP Defenders Highlight Decentralization and Innovation

McGregor’s comments sparked an immediate response from the XRP community. Leading validators and blockchain experts pointed out XRP’s decentralization is on par with Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Vet, a prominent XRP Ledger validator, mentioned recent network upgrades that improved both functionality and decentralization.
Panos Mekras, founder of Anodos Finance, said XRP has pioneered deflationary tokenomics, burning mechanisms, Layer 1 prioritization and tokenization.
Dom Kwok, co-founder of EasyA, said while Bitcoin is a store of value, XRP, Solana and Ethereum are utility tokens. He noted their inclusion in the proposed US Strategic Crypto Reserve is because of their use cases not just market value.

These insights not only confirm XRP’s position but also shows growing institutional interest in its utility.

Strategic Crypto Reserves: A Global Trend

The idea of a government backed digital asset stockpile is gaining traction worldwide. In March, former US President Donald Trump signed an executive order for a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a broader Digital Asset Stockpile. Since then several US states, including Texas and New Hampshire, have introduced legislation to create state level Bitcoin reserves.

Outside the US, countries like Ukraine and Ireland are exploring similar initiatives. McGregor himself has a meeting scheduled with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele to discuss an Irish Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.And an XRP ETF in the US is getting closer. 83% chance according to market analysts despite the regulatory roadblocks.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR See More

Arslan Butt

Lead Markets Analyst – Multi-Asset (FX, Commodities, Crypto)

Arslan Butt serves as the Lead Commodities and Indices Analyst, bringing a wealth of expertise to the field. With an MBA in Behavioral Finance and active progress towards a Ph.D., Arslan possesses a deep understanding of market dynamics. His professional journey includes a significant role as a senior analyst at a leading brokerage firm, complementing his extensive experience as a market analyst and day trader. Adept in educating others, Arslan has a commendable track record as an instructor and public speaker. His incisive analyses, particularly within the realms of cryptocurrency and forex markets, are showcased across esteemed financial publications such as ForexCrunch, InsideBitcoins, and EconomyWatch, solidifying his reputation in the financial community.