The cryptocurrency community loves catchy headlines, especially those suggesting a wide spread. One of these headlines dominated the X-Wave conference over the weekend, claiming that McDonald's would start accepting XRP payments starting today (Monday, August 4) at select locations in the United States.
Viral claim: XRP for your Big Mac?
On August 3, a post came from the @Ripple_queen account:
"🚨 Breaking: McDonald's will test payments using #XRP🍔💸 Starting Monday, selected locations in the U.S. will accept $XRP..."
The post describes this moment as a potential "transformative moment" in the field of cryptocurrency payments and the XRP ledger. It suggests that customers will soon be able to pay for fast food in seconds using XRP, ending with "It would be great if this were true!"
Naturally, the post spread widely on cryptocurrency Twitter. Retail creators and some XRP enthusiasts began talking about it. The timing seemed right, as XRP's price was skyrocketing, and its market value had just surpassed that of McDonald's itself.
But is that true?
No notice? No agreement
And here is the reason why this rumor is not true.
No announcements from McDonald's or Ripple: neither company has confirmed anything regarding XRP payments. No press releases, blog updates, or public statements have been issued. With such a significant move, an official announcement is expected, especially from Ripple, which usually provides regulatory information when entering new markets.
Accusations began with an unverified tweet: the original post used vague terms like "allegedly" and did not reference any sources. This raises suspicion. Even in the replies, many users pointed out the lack of evidence and deemed it speculation.
XRP is not used in retail payments this way: XRP has legitimate applications, particularly in cross-border banking and institutional transfers. This does not mean it is used in fast-food restaurant chains. Ripple's partnerships have always focused on financial infrastructure, not on experimental retail projects. Maybe in the future, but not now.
Why did the XRP x McDonald's rumor spread so quickly?
To be fair, XRP has had strong weeks.
The token recently surpassed McDonald's in market value, exceeding the $215 billion mark. It has risen by 4.11% in the past twenty-four hours and is currently trading at around $2.99. With strong weekly institutional flows, the market shows clear confidence.
So when someone claimed that XRP would enter the fast food industry, everyone was ready to believe it.
Final verdict: False
There is no partnership between McDonald's and XRP. You won't be able to buy a Big Mac with cryptocurrency today.
This claim is just an unfounded rumor. If there is any change, you will hear from official sources.