Barstool’s Dave Portnoy Goes Bullish on XRP: ‘What If It’s the Next BTC?’

• Dave Portnoy backs XRP at $2.40, driven by instinct, comparing it to Bitcoin’s early days.
• Personal crypto loss pushes Portnoy toward XRP, seeing speculative investments as cultural identity shifts.

Dave Portnoy, the CEO of DDTG Global and a well-known figure in financial and media circles, recently made a declaration in favor of XRP during the 2025 CoinDesk Consensus conference. His interest is not driven by extensive research into the technology and a long study of financial reports. Rather, he asserts it is all about instinct, emotion, and FOMO — the positive kind.

Portnoy clarified that XRP is his favorite for one reason alone: potential. At $2.40, he considers it one of the last of its kind that still has potential for growth, comparing its future to that of Bitcoin during its earlier years.

“I don’t know if there’s as much FOMO in Bitcoin now; it’s so established. But that’s why I’m in XRP. It’s FOMO,” Portnoy said.

It’s just $2.40. What if that’s the next Bitcoin?

He suspects that Bitcoin’s growing maturity may have tempered its popularity for speculative investors seeking quick returns. XRP, on the other hand, still retains that underdog flavor that resonates with individual investors and risk-takers alike. That air of unpredictability, he suggests, is the very same thing that catapulted Bitcoin into a global phenomenon—and what might drive XRP upwards in the future.

Sports Bets and Crypto Collide in New Culture Shift

Aside from price speculation, Portnoy also discussed a clear convergence of sports betting and cryptocurrency. He noted that both of them appeal to individuals ready to risk themselves in anticipation of high payouts.

“There’s something about placing a bet, seeing Bitcoin or XRP go up, and just sitting on your couch like, ‘I made that money not working,’” he said.

That’s a great feeling.

He claimed that it manifested from a deeper cultural shift. Increasing numbers of young individuals are viewing financial risk-taking as a means of gaining independence, defying convention, and exercising ambition. It is no longer merely a matter of money—it is a matter of mindset and lifestyle that grow with high-risk prospects.

His comments added strength to the premise that speculation is not a trick but rather a part of a larger social movement. This is something that is part of a larger pattern in which individuals are seeking out digital assets as new-aged tools for accumulating wealth, circumventing traditional, slower systems.

Crypto Fortune Outbids Long-Time Worker

During the course of the interview, Portnoy recounted a personal story that supported his opinion on the strength of digital currency. He tried several years ago to purchase an apartment in Miami but got outbid by an individual whose fortune was made in cryptocurrencies.

“He probably got into Bitcoin when it was like eight bucks. I’ve slaved for 20 years, and he just outbid me,” he recalled.

While Bitcoin’s price now has a market capitalization of over $2 trillion, Portnoy sees XRP at $2.40 as an entry point that could follow Bitcoin’s previous trajectory. It’s not a matter of technicals or charts, but rather what could transpire in the event of a repeat of past performance.