UFC Star Conor McGregor Signals Interest in XRP Amid US Plans for Strategic Crypto Reserve

Five-time UFC champion Conor McGregor has signaled a growing interest in XRP and other leading altcoins, broadening his focus beyond Bitcoin. Known for his earlier advocacy of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, McGregor is now delving into the decentralization claims of various blockchains.

Conor McGregor Exploring XRP

In a recent post on X, Conor McGregor revealed his interest in understanding XRP. According to the post, the five-time UFC champion is exploring the decentralization claims of various blockchains, such as Cardano and XRP.

McGregor noted that he was initially informed that only Bitcoin and Ethereum were “truly decentralized” networks. However, the U.S. government’s decision to build a digital stockpile that includes XRP, Solana (SOL), and Cardano (ADA) has piqued his curiosity.

In light of this development, he sought input from the crypto community about these networks, which the government appears interested in despite claims of centralization.

XRP Army Reacts: XRP is no less Decentralized than Bitcoin

Following McGregor’s post, XRP proponents stepped in to defend the token’s decentralization. Vet, a well-known XRPL validator,  argued 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.

Furthermore, Anodos Finance founder Panos Mekras stated that XRP pioneered several key innovations in the crypto space. He argued that deflationary tokenomics, burning mechanisms, Layer 1 prioritization, and tokenization all make XRP a solid blockchain.

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.

Interest In A Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Soars

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 US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).