Crypto Pundit Takes XRP for a Wild Ride—25 Uber Trips Put to the Ultimate Test
XRP just got a real-world stress test—and the results might surprise you.
One crypto analyst ditched theory for the open road, tracking 25 Uber payments to see if Ripple’s darling could handle the chaos of everyday spending. Spoiler: It wasn’t all smooth rides and five-star ratings.
Speed vs. Surge Pricing: Can XRP Outpace the Market?
While credit cards groaned under peak-hour fees, XRP sliced through transactions—when it worked. Three trips stalled mid-payment, leaving our guinea pig awkwardly explaining blockchain to confused drivers.
The Gas Fee Paradox: Cheaper Isn’t Always Faster
Sure, XRP avoided Ethereum’s highway robbery fees. But when network congestion hit, that ‘low cost’ came with a 12-minute wait—enough time for two lattes and an existential crisis about crypto adoption.
Final Verdict: A Coin With Road Rash Potential
XRP shows flashes of brilliance between potholes. For now, keep some fiat in your back pocket—unless you enjoy teaching strangers about consensus mechanisms while your ride idles at the curb.
(Bonus jab: At least it’s not as volatile as your average FinTwit influencer’s portfolio.)
Testing XRP Awareness Among Drivers
Jakey’s sample was small but clear. He hopped into 25 different rides and got mostly blank looks when he mentioned XRP.
A few drivers asked what XRP even is, and some said they’d only ever heard of Bitcoin or Ethereum. None of the first 24 drivers held any of the coin. That pattern held up all day long.
Are uber drivers actually rich from XRP?
I took 50 uber rides to find out! pic.twitter.com/Dex10kguWc
— Jakey (@SolJakey) July 20, 2025
One Driver Bucks The Trend
On ride number 25, Jakey finally met someone who said he bought the crypto at $1.67. It’s not clear whether that driver bought when the coin hit 1.67 in mid‑2021 or during the November 2024 rally.
What mattered to him was utility. He said he plans to hold XRP for the long haul because of how it moves money across borders.
Jakey has been a vocal skeptic. In December 2024, when the crypto asset traded at $2, he opened a short position and funneled his gains into Solana‑based meme coins.
XRP then climbed to $3.4 in January 2025, fell back to $2, and settled around $3.5 as of this week.
Based on reports from the altcoin community researcher SMQKE, almost 100% of retail investors still don’t know what XRP is, even as it breaks price records.
The current state of retail.
99% are oblivious to XRP, even as it breaks all time highs.
Retail investors are not rushing to accumulate utility tokens.
Institutions are.
https://t.co/5CtwmOYXEn
— SMQKE (@SMQKEDQG) July 20, 2025
Retail Adoption Remains EarlySMQKE argues that low awareness shows retail interest hasn’t caught up yet. At the same time, institutions have quietly added the altcoin behind the scenes.
On‑chain data hints at large transfers moving into wallets that belong to big players. That kind of accumulation can drive prices without any street‑level buzz.
What This Means For The AltcoinThe Uber‑ride test shows a big gap between price performance and public recognition. Asking 25 people isn’t a scientific survey, but it does highlight how few everyday users know about XRP by name.
For a clearer view of retail adoption, one WOULD need broader polls, exchange‑level user stats, and more on‑chain analysis. Until then, the altcoin’s path into mainstream hands may still be at the starting line.
Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
