At Consensus 2025, Barstool Sports founder and internet personality Dave Portnoy made waves with his unexpected take on XRP$XRP . Known for his outspoken style, Portnoy turned heads by suggesting that XRP might follow in Bitcoin’s early footsteps—and yes, he actually owns so$me himself.
What stood out the most was Portnoy’s openness about his investment strategy. He admitted that his decision to buy XRP wasn’t based on deep research or technical analysis. Instead, it was pure market psychology—especially the growing fear of missing out (FOMO). According to him, the current buzz surrounding XRP reminds him of Bitcoin in its early, underestimated days.
And it’s not just Portnoy backing XRP. Crypto attorney John Deaton has also predicted that XRP could surpass Ethereum$ETH in market cap by year-end—an incredibly bold claim. Meanwhile, whale activity has recently sent the XRP price soaring past $2.60, signaling that larger players are getting involved.
Portnoy pointed out that Bitcoin$BTC , now trading above $102,000, has become a more stable and recognized asset. While it's still dominant, it doesn’t spark the same speculative frenzy it once did. In contrast, XRP—hovering around $2.30—feels like the “early Bitcoin moment” to him.
He even shared a personal story that helped shape his view on crypto. Years ago, he lost out on a dream apartment in Miami—outbid by someone who, he believes, made early Bitcoin profits when it was just $7 or $8. That moment stuck with him.
Portnoy first dipped into crypto in 2020 after getting a nudge from the Winklevoss twins. Like many, he jumped in fast, then sold too soon. But he's come a long way since then—saying in 2024 that he was ready to invest $10 million if Bitcoin ever dropped to $40K. That dip never came, and BTC just kept climbing.
While Portnoy’s XRP bet is driven more by market vibes than fundamentals, his take is resonating with many watching the altcoin’s rise. With rising adoption and increasing investor interest, the next few months could be key for XRP.
