XRP Sale Regret: Dave Portnoy Missed $3M Gain

XRP has once again caught headlines, this time due to a costly misjudgment by Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy. In an honest account shared recently, Portnoy admitted to panic selling his $3 million XRP holdings prematurely, causing him to miss out on major gains.

Last week, Portnoy took to social media platform X to lament his decision to sell his XRP just two weeks prior. During a livestream, he revealed that he had accumulated a position worth around $3 million in XRP. Initially, Portnoy had intentions to ride out the market volatility in anticipation of a future price surge.

However, things changed when the same friend who had originally encouraged him to invest in XRP sent him a cryptic message: “No good news. Circle would do what XRP is doing.” Confused by the vague warning and uncertain about its meaning, Portnoy questioned whether this was a subtle suggestion to exit the market. Caught in indecision, he opted to liquidate his entire XRP stake when the price hit $2.4 per token.

What followed was a textbook case of fear-of-missing-out gone wrong. Within days of his sale, XRP went on a steep upward trajectory, climbing to $3.5—a whopping 45.83% increase from his exit price. The painful twist arrived on July 18, 2025, as XRP peaked at $3.65, reaching a multi-year high. Watching this unfold from the sidelines, Portnoy confessed that it made him feel “sick in his stomach.”

Although he noted that he was still profiting from his positions in Bitcoin and Ethereum, the regret over selling XRP prematurely lingered deeply. His initial investment was driven by a strong belief in XRP’s potential, even suggesting in past interviews that it might one day mirror Bitcoin’s rise. In a separate post, Portnoy had stated that XRP could experience a 10x price growth, propelling it to record highs.

This conviction was a foundation for his long-term investment strategy—until panic set in. A message, filled with ambiguity and lacking context, derailed that vision and led to a hasty decision. Now, he’s left reflecting on what could’ve been a monumental win.

The crypto community, particularly XRP faithfuls, haven’t been shy in weighing in on Portnoy’s situation. Popular XRP advocate JackTheRippler emphasized the importance of holding through uncertain times. In a recent article, he stated that “it’s never too late to buy XRP, but always too early to sell,” a sentiment likely aimed at retail investors prone to making emotional decisions.

Despite a minor 2.28% dip in the last 24 hours, bringing the current price to $3.49, XRP still shows impressive week-over-week gains of 24.01%. These figures further underscore how timing, misinterpretation, and lack of conviction can turn a winning position into a tale of regret.

Related: XRP Price: $12M Max Pain for Bears

Portnoy’s experience is now serving as a cautionary example in the wider XRP community. It’s a reminder that conviction and strategy need to outweigh emotional reactions and vague third-party advice in the volatile world of cryptocurrency.