Barstool Sports founder and internet personality Dave Portnoy made waves at Consensus 2025 this week, voicing his latest crypto opinion — and this time, he’s betting on XRP.
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From Real Estate to FOMO: How Bitcoin Changed Portnoy’s Perspective
Sharing a personal story, Portnoy recalled losing a Miami apartment deal to a Bitcoin investor — someone he suspects bought BTC when it was just $7–8. “I’ve slaved for twenty years, and he just outbid me,” he joked, highlighting how early adopters of Bitcoin have turned it into massive wealth.
That experience stuck with him — not just as a lesson in timing, but in how powerful crypto FOMO (fear of missing out) can be.
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Portnoy’s XRP Play: Inspired by Bitcoin’s Early Days?
“There’s 100% FOMO on everything,” Portnoy noted, especially when it comes to meme coins and emerging altcoins. But unlike Bitcoin, which he sees as already matured, XRP now sparks the kind of excitement BTC once had.
“I’m in XRP — that’s FOMO,” he admitted. He’s not necessarily convinced XRP is the future of finance, but he sees parallels in its current price and potential. With XRP priced around $2.30, Portnoy sees echoes of Bitcoin’s early days — and is wagering that lightning might strike twice.
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Portnoy’s Crypto Journey So Far
First bought Bitcoin (and LINK) in 2020 after advice from the Winklevoss twins
Sold off during a price dip, only to re-enter the market years later
In 2024, announced plans to reinvest up to $10M into Bitcoin if it dipped near $40,000
Now publicly holds XRP, driven by speculation and market sentiment
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BTC's Price Journey in 2025 So Far
Earlier this year, Bitcoin hit a new ATH above $109,000, before correcting below $90K. Recently, it reclaimed the $100,000 milestone, fueling fresh optimism across the crypto space.
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Final Thought:
Is XRP really the next Bitcoin — or just another high-risk gamble? Portnoy may be playing the FOMO game, but in crypto, bold bets sometimes pay off big.
What do you think — is XRP a future giant or just another altcoin dream? Share your thoughts below.