Conor McGregor Expands His Crypto Interest Beyond Bitcoin, Exploring XRP and Other Altcoins

Five-time UFC champion Conor McGregor has signaled a growing interest in XRP and other leading altcoins, broadening his focus beyond Bitcoin.

Five-time UFC champion Conor McGregor has signaled a growing interest in XRP and other leading altcoins, broadening his focus beyond Bitcoin.

McGregor, previously known for his advocacy of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, is now delving into the decentralization claims of various blockchains. In a recent post on X, McGregor revealed his curiosity about XRP.

“I have learned from the events this week that not all blockchains are actually decentralised. A lot of people are telling me that BTC and ETH are the only truly decentralised networks. But the U.S. government is going to buy XRP, SOL, and ADA? Give me your thoughts!” the five-time champion wrote.

McGregor’s post has sparked reactions from XRP proponents, who stepped in to defend the token’s decentralization. Among the commenters was Vet, a well-known XRPL validator, who asserted that XRP is no less decentralized than Bitcoin or Ethereum, justifying its inclusion in the digital stockpile.

Experts have pointed to a recent upgrade for the XRP Ledger (XRPL) that enhances its functionality and decentralization features. Anodos Finance founder Panos Mekras also stated that XRP plied several key innovations in the crypto space.

“We learned tokenomics from XRP, burning mechanisms from XRP, Layer 1 matters from XRP, and tokenization from XRP. This is why it makes sense for the U.S. to prioritize XRP over other chains,” Mekras added.

EasyA founder Dom Kwok, in his response to McGregor, clarified that Bitcoin is a store of value while XRP, SOL, and ETH are utility tokens. Kwok argues that their inclusion in the U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile stems from their utility rather than their valuation.

Global interest in a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve has reached a fervent pitch in recent months, led by the U.S. Back in March, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order for a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a Digital Asset Stockpile.

Since the signing, U.S. states like Texas and New Hampshire have signed bills for a state-owned Bitcoin reserve. Outside the U.S., Ukraine and Ireland are tipped to mirror the United States in setting up their own Bitcoin reserves.

McGregor has already scheduled a meeting with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele to discuss the viability of an Irish Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. Amid rising interest in other cryptocurrencies, discussion about a digital stockpile comprising XRP could surface.

Already, XRP is garnering significant institutional interest in recent weeks, with anticipation for a spot ETF reaching a frenzy. XRP ETF approval odds have risen to 83% despite repeated delays by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).