XRP in U.S. Reserves? McGregor’s Raised Eyebrows Spark Crypto Speculation

Ripple’s XRP might be joining the U.S. Treasury’s reserves—or so the rumor mill claims. UFC star Conor McGregor’s cryptic reaction has traders scrambling for clues.

Could the ‘people’s crypto’ go institutional? The Treasury hasn’t confirmed, but the market’s already pricing in hopium. Meanwhile, Wall Street bankers clutch their pearls—and their legacy SWIFT rails.

One thing’s clear: if true, this would be the ultimate irony—a decentralized asset propping up the world’s largest centralized economy. The Fed’s printers might need a blockchain upgrade.

TLDR

• Conor McGregor raised concerns about the U.S. including XRP in its official crypto reserve.
• His remarks sparked strong reactions from Bitcoin supporters who questioned XRP’s decentralization.
• The U.S. reserve also includes Bitcoin, Ethereum, Cardano, and Solana, which added to the debate.
• McGregor is running for Irish president and is campaigning for a national Bitcoin reserve in Ireland.
• Cardano supporters defended its inclusion by highlighting its on-chain governance and decentralization model.

Conor McGregor questioned the U.S. government’s decision to include XRP in its official crypto reserve. His remarks sparked widespread reactions across the cryptocurrency community. McGregor raised concerns about decentralization and the selection of reserve assets.

McGregor’s comments follow former President Donald Trump’s March 2025 announcement about a national crypto reserve. The reserve will include Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Cardano, and Solana. This decision has drawn both support and criticism from different crypto camps.

The debate over decentralization continues, with Bitcoin supporters claiming dominance. McGregor has become a surprising voice in the ongoing global crypto discussion. His interest centers on whether XRP and others meet decentralization standards.

XRP Under Scrutiny After U.S. Reserve Inclusion

McGregor’s concerns targeted XRP as he questioned its presence in the U.S. crypto reserve. Many bitcoin supporters argue that XRP lacks the decentralization required for national reserves. Despite that, the U.S. moved ahead with its inclusion.

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 US government are going to buy XRP, SOL, and ADA?

Give me your thoughts! pic.twitter.com/KMjVCSujqO

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) May 26, 2025

The selection of XRP comes amid ongoing legal scrutiny in the U.S. regarding its status. Although the SEC case against Ripple has progressed, uncertainty remains around XRP’s classification. Even so, the coin remains widely used for cross-border payments.

Critics of XRP say Ripple Labs too closely holds its supply. Supporters argue it brings utility and real-time settlement speed; whether XRP is decentralized remains unanswered for many observers.

Cardano Proponents Defend Its Place in the Reserve

Alongside XRP, Cardano was also listed in the U.S. reserve, triggering a new wave of debate. Cardano’s community responded quickly, pointing to its on-chain governance system. They claim Cardano is more decentralized than XRP or even Ethereum.

While McGregor did not mention cardano directly, his post highlighted all five reserve assets. Cardano’s representatives stressed that their network relies on community voting and independent stake pools. They maintain that this structure meets decentralization standards.

The U.S. government has not commented on the concerns raised about decentralization. Yet, Cardano continues to develop its governance and smart contract capabilities. Its presence in the reserve shows institutional confidence in its future.

Solana Also Faces Questions from Bitcoin Advocates

Solana joined XRP and Cardano in the U.S. reserve list, adding to the centralization concerns. Critics point to Solana’s history of outages and validator control. Supporters claim its speed and efficiency outweigh decentralization questions.

Many Bitcoin advocates were surprised to learn that Solana, like XRP, was included in national reserves. They argue that assets with fewer independent validators should not be in national reserves. However, the government appears to have considered other factors, such as transaction speed.

McGregor’s inquiry about XRP spilled into discussions about Solana’s technical resilience. His broader focus remains on transparency and trust in reserve assets, which may shape how future reserves are structured worldwide.

McGregor Urges Ireland to Back Bitcoin

While questioning XRP’s inclusion, McGregor also pushes Ireland to adopt Bitcoin as a strategic reserve. Since early May, he has hosted talks with Bitcoin experts to build policy support. He says Bitcoin ensures transparency, monetary independence, and economic freedom.

McGregor’s campaign links Ireland’s potential Bitcoin reserve to similar movements across the EU. Countries like the Czech Republic and Poland are considering Bitcoin in their national reserves. Their proposals aim to shield economies from global financial shocks.